vancouverdeb ( Deborah) hopes to read 75 in 2013 part three

Vancouver in the Spring, if it ever stops raining!

A Favourite * O/S- off the shelf L - Library Book.

January
The Factory Voice: A Novel by Jeanette Lynes 3.5 stars O/S
The Beauty of Humanity Movement by Camilla Gibb 3.7 stars
Speaking From Among the Bones by Alan Bradley 4 stars
Sorry by Gail Jones 4 stars
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle 4 stars O/S
How It All Began: A Novel by Penelope Lively 4.2 stars
Alys, Always: A Novel by Harriet Lane 3.7 stars

February
The Secret River by Kate Grenville 4.5 stars L
Invisible Murder by Lene Kaaberbol 4.2 stars O/S
The Public Confessions Of A Middle-aged Woman by Sue Townsend 3.7 stars
The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle 3.2 stars
The Age of Hope by David Bergen 4.25 stars O/S

March
The Poisoned Pawn by Peggy Blair 3.8 stars
The Colour by Rose Tremain 4 stars
The Family Album by Penelope Lively 5 stars*
The Introvert's Way by Sophia Dembling 3.2 stars
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 3.8 stars
The Innocents by Francesca Segal 3 stars

The picture above would be Vancouver in Spring, if only it would stop raining! And I saved a few more spots than needed! :)What to do!

Finished the Poisoned Pawn which was quite an excellent read! A great 2 nd book in the series by Canadian author, Peggy Blair. I'm going to bed soon, so I'm not even going to put any comment in - maybe later - just 3.8 stars , and I look very forward to her next book starring Cuban Inspector Ricardo Ramirez.

Lovely trees! I'm first on a thread for once.

@5 Rhian I'm honoured to have your visit my thread! Thanks! Yes you are first! I thought I get this new thread started while I found a few minutes and also remembered how to put a thread topper on my thread. I agree, the trees are gorgeous, just not what Vancouver looks like right now - we've had a lot of rain and a lot of overcast.

From my previous thread

@Ellen, I'm so delighted that you feel that I am your " go to person " for Canadian books. You are so kindl

@Joyce - The pineapple express, yes it is making me want to scream or go to bed until the sun comes out!

For those who don't live in the area, the " Pineapple Express " is a term used by weather people here to describe a of rain and somewhat warmer weather that comes across the Pacific from Hawaiii , only to drop all that rain here in Vancouver. Let's say it tries one's patience.

We spent the evening watching Argo and it was okay, but not fantastic.

And I'm not sure what my next book will be - there are many waiting -but sometimes they have to audition for me before I decide.

Welcome to my new thread :)

Hi Deborah - Pretty picture. The ground is still covered with snow here although I have heard birds.

Our library just got the first Blair book, and I remembered that you liked it so I reserved it.

Nice new thread.

Beautiful photo as always... nice new thread :) Hope all in well :)

My sympathies for your endless rain, Deborah. Here in Iowa it seems to be snowing every day, although not much is actually sticking. Still, we are all stir-crazy and more than ready for spring!

Hi Deb,
Pretty Vancouver! I'm sure your flowers will come long before ours. We are months away from gardening and leaves on trees.

It continues to be a winter wonderland outside (new snow last night). The snow is getting very wet now and the temp is mid 30s. So a lot of it melts during the day. Nights are still cold though :-)

Spring is a temptress. Flirting ever so briefly - then running away!

What a gorgeous opening photo Deb! We won't see spring for some time. We seldom see much of it in March although we did last year so I continue to hope. Right now it's snowing so...

Hi Deb, good to know you enjoyed The Poisoned Pawn and that you will continue with Inspector Ricardo Ramirez. Will definitely keep this series in mind. Lovely top photo of Vancouver. Our March came in like a lamb, so I'm hoping we're not in for the lion, but I don't know ... March can be very rude!

Lovely colours to adorn your new thread Deb.
Are all those cars parked or do Canadians routinely drive so close to the edges of the road?

Have a lovely weekend.

Ah! Beautiful spring picture. Sadly, I know it won't look like that here for two more months. :( Love the title Poisoned Pawn. It makes me think of a chess tourney gone bad.

Hi Deb, I keep reading Poisoned Pawn as "Poisoned Prawn" making me think of a seafood cocktail gone off!

I think we are just days away from a change in the weather. Those beautiful pink blossoms will pop out, the rain and clouds will disappear, and we will bask in the sunshine. (A girl can dream - right?)

What a marvelous photo of spring in Vancouver. It has been a cold, windy, grey winter. I long for spring and thus it is lovely to see lovely blossoms.

aha, thanks for explaining the Pineapple Express. I was wondering. Beautiful photo but so far from our reality here.
Paul, that made me grin: they are parked. Further along one is driving in the middle. This isn't a stereotypical road either...probably one going through a park or a very quiet neighbourhood.

Nice new thread, Deb. We make it to Victoria about once a year, but I'm starting to think we need to make a Vancouver run. P's brother's wife's sister lives there and would put us up.....

Wonderful top-photo, Deborah - just as spring should look like. Hope you'll enjoy it without rain. Have fun with your Cuban detective - I'm in the middle of a very exciting case for our Danish detective. You can look forward to that.

@ Hi Beth! We can hear the birds ALL YEAR! At times it's something like Hitchcock's "The Birds" movies. We get snow geese from Siberia! * shakes heads at the thought* by the millions. They take over parks, school yards and leave a lot of poop behind. Finally they have a program going where they have dogs trained to scare them off , and I'm not sure what all. No killing, that's all I know. They are really noisy! We have crows and seagulls all year too. As for The Beggar's Opera by Peggy Blair, I hope you enjoy it! It was recently a ER book here on LT, so I'm hoping she will get better known. I like this second book even better.

@9 Hi Kathleen! I hope all is well in your corner of the world. More or less is here. Today it finally stopped raining, and we got out to the bookstore, hubby and I. Exciting Saturday night! :) Then we went grocery shopping! Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny for a day or so.

@10 Hi Julia. Well, it helps to know we suffer along with others. I think I'd rather have rain that snow.... but either way it's trouble some!

@11 Cee, some of our flowers are already out, despite the endless rain. The crocuses are up, the daffodils are green stems and we've some azaleas outside our front door that is slowly coming into bloom. Yes, spring certainly can be temptress, you are correct!

@12 Bonnie, I'm just dreaming with my thread topper. Eventually it will look like that , but not til April . We have some sort of Cherry Blossom festival starting at the beginning of April, but that's another month ahead.

@13 Yes Nancy, I very much enjoy Poisoned Pawn. Ricardo Ramirez is a very bright detective and pathologist Hector Apiro is very smart also. This story took us from Havana to Ottawa, with a Catholic priest based pedophile problems common to both Cuban and Canada is days gone by, with both countries aboriginal people. It was really quite well done!

@14 Paul, so observant! Those cars are parked. It would be nightmare to travel done that road in the middle!:) I have a feeling someone took that picture early on Sunday morning when most people were still asleep.

@15 CammyKitty, Poisoned Pawn - a chess tourney gone wrong! That is very funny! It is a catchy title.

@16 Judy,Such a chuckle - Poisoned Prawn. LOL! That might not be bad for a food based cozy mystery. I have trouble spelling Poisoned without two i's , so it's not just you. Yes , a girl can dream - I know I am!!! Big time!

@ 17 Hi Linda! Well, at least today when I went out I was able not to wear my " rain shoes". They are my shoes that can get trashed by the wet and I don't care. It's a funny thing here in Vancouver - very few people wear " rain boots' every one just has a crummy pair of shoes or two or three and we weae those out in the rain.

@18 Tui, yes indeed, that photo is taken on a fairly quiet road and it's in " swishy " neighborhood. I don't know the actual street but I do know my " neighbourhoods" LOL! Yes the dreaded pineapple express! It's truly a term used here by the meteorologists and by people who live here.

@19 Ellen , you know I never brag about my city :) but yes, though Victoria is pretty and it has it's charms - well , Vancouver.................

@20 Hi Carsten! I'm done with my married Cuban Detective til the next book in the series....and yes I'm looking very forward to the release of the next Jussi Adler-Olsen book. Can't wait - it comes out later this spring!

Well, I finally settled on a book. Thanks to Joyce aka Nickelini for the recommendation and I think also my kiwi friend, Megan, IreadthereforeIam. The shortlisted Orange Prize worthy The Colour by Rose Tremain. I'm only in the first 25 pages, but I'm enjoying it so far. And it's a second hand copy, so that makes me happy too!Oh yes, it's also apparently one of those 1001 books :).

I picked up couple of books at the bookstore this evening. Family Album by Penelope Lively and The Hound of the Baskervilles. One never knows when one might be caught out without a good book...:)

#23 I was about to say that Family Album is a good one when I started to have doubts, and on looking at the reviews I realise that I haven't actually read it. I'm mixing it up with A House Unlocked. But I'm sure it's a good one anyway - most things written by Penelope Lively are good, in my opinion.

Deborah, I love that lavender cloud of trees in your thread topper. I am SO ready for spring! The Colour is on my wish procurement list. I have high hopes of finding it at the Spring Library Sale in late April. I loved both Trespass and The Road Home by Tremain. I look forward to your comments on it.

Hi Deb- Congrats on the new thread. Love the Vancouver pic! I am hoping for Spring too! I have not read Tremaine, although I have had Trespass on my WL for ages. Have a great Sunday.

Deb, here's to enjoying Tremain's The Colour. Standing by to share your read ...

Always interested to hear about the recent novels from 1001 Books - there's a lot I don't know anything about.

Stopping by your new thread Deb this lovely sunny morning to see how things are with you. Cherry blossom lined streets are a great sign of spring.... what a perfect thread topper for March!

Well, Deborah, I guess you're out in the spectacular sunshine today! Do you walk on the dyke? I'll be walking around a soccer field -- Sunday means soccer for both my daughters this time of year.

Hi Deb--nice new thread! I hope you get your spring weather. I have not read any Rose Tremain, but I have The Road Home near the top of my TBR stack (although truth be told it's been near the top for at least a year). I'll be interested in your thoughts on The Colour.

@24 Rhian, eventually I intend to read Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively, which so many here on LT have recommended, but I happened to see the print book of Family Album at the bookstore and it looked good, so I bought it. I've not seen Moon Tiger in real life yet and probably I'll get it on my kindle. I still prefer to look over books before I " buy them" , so often I'll check out the bookstore before I make a kindle purchase.

25 Donna, I love your expression, wish procurement list. Yes, those cherry blossoms lining the streets do look beautiful. Today is a beautiful sunny day, but in all truth the cherry blossoms will not really be out til late March- April . But we are supposedly to expect two days in a row of sunny weather.

@26 Thanks Mark! I'll think of your well , freezing outside tomorrow. I think Vancouver is supposed to hit 50 F tomorrow!

@ 27 Nancy, that's how I often feel when you are reading a book - standing by enjoying your read with you! Especially when you are reading a book I've already read and vice versa. I've not gotten too far in, but very much enjoying the book.

@28 Carsten , there is a lot I don't know much about so welcome to the club! I'd forgotten/ didn't realized The Colour was on the 1001 books til I put in my " currently reading status."

@29 Always wonderful to see you, Lori, of the" City of Gardens." It's been fairly windy hear but very sunny. Nice for we Vitamin D starved!

@30 Yes Joyce, I've been out walking to enjoy the spring sun! I do walk on the dyke yes, but also just around the area where I live. I am looking forward to next week when we put our clocks forward and get a longer day! I love this new early daylight savings! Enjoy walking the soccer fields.Garry Point park is fairly close to us , so it's often a destination walk. I like the dyke along the airport too - across the river from where the float planes take off. Always lots to see! We used to live in that area , and it was my daily jog on the dyke there. And biking with the kids.

@31 Well Anne, it would appear that we have two days of sun before we go back to rain... I'm hoping those days of sun get more frequent! Never give up on your TBR stack. I've been trying to get to my TBR stack, while adding to it as well, but I'm finding some " hidden gems" in the TBR stacks!

Thanks for visiting my thread and I hope you are all enjoying a nice relaxing Sunday, thought I know plenty of people still have to work on Sundays, my husband often included . He in his element today, flying stunt kites in the sun with his friends.

>22 vancouverdeb: I wish I could take credit for recommending a book that you are (a) reading, and (b) enjoying! But Im not sure it was me :(
Depending on your review, I might give it a go myself! (no pressure)

Beautiful spring flowers on those trees up top! And just the other day I noticed the first orange leaves dropping onto the grass here. I love autumn and those crunchy leaves.

@33 Well, Megan I was pretty sure that you gave me some New Zealand recommending, but I'll have to look back into my older threads. At any rate, I am learning about the gold rush in your country. I had no idea that there was gold rush in New Zealand! It's a good book, but yet another sad, mysterious - so far - marriage . Great book!

We had a great sunny day here again today!! Woot!

I am LOVING Lone Ranger! I think I might have to own this one! His prose is tough, gritty, witty & beautiful. I wish Tonto could be tagging along.

Woot Mark!!! Loving Lone Ranger. Well, maybe with my next amazon order I'll have to get it! Glad that you are enjoying, L.R!!!!

Gorgeous photo of the trees. We have snow at the moment.

@ 38 Hi Lori! So glad that we don't have snow - nor have we had any over the winter! Another somewhat overcast day, but the daffodil and crocuses are definitely in bloom. So wonderful to see! About time!

I agree Deb. It is so great to see the early spring flowers. Bring 'em on!

>34 vancouverdeb: There were massive gold rushed here in the early days,down south in Otago particularly. It bought a lot of Chinese settlers, and their descendants are still here today. On the beach near my dads house, a local guy staked a claim, and funded his kids university fees just by panning over the years. So its still around, even if in small pieces.

@40 I'm so happy to see signs of spring too! Today is kind of overcast still, but it's not raining and that's all I ask - sort of! :)

@41 Megan, that's exactly what I am finding out as I read through The Colour. The gold rush down south, so far there are some Chinese but mostly folks from the UK. It's so amazing how many people rushed out for gold rushes!! I read a fabulous non - fiction book about the gold rush here in the on the west coast of Canada, and thought it was non - fiction, it read like quite a colourful story Gold diggers : striking it rich in the Klondike by Charlotte Gray and I cannot believe how many foolish / desperate people rushed to the gold rushes! OH! I just the part aout a local staking a claim and funding his kids through university with his gold. Mainly I've read about people not " striking it rich." Interesting stuff.

The Colour is somewhat of a gritty story, unhappy marriage, the gold rush . It's quite interesting , another " frontier" sort of a story.

Deb, we are surely visiting our share of frontier so far this year, aren't we? Or perhaps I should just speak for myself. I've been there so often, I've got saddle sores ... and Doc is sitting on the dining room table waiting (although I've got books piled up, so I don't know when I'll get to it).

Nancy- Shove the other books over and pick up Doc. You will not be disappointed.

Deb- Lone Ranger was a 5 star read! My first 5 star of the year! Yahoo!

I agree with Mark --- both Doc and Lone Ranger are excellent reads. Especially Doc.

Such a gorgeous thread topping picture! Love Cherry Blossom time in Macon, Ga but I'm guessing it would be breathtaking in Vancouver!

Woot! Thanks guys, Doc is up next after I finish what I'm presently reading!

Nancy- Are you sure you even want to finish your current read? LOL.

Hi Deb, it's going to be in the mid 50s here on Saturday and Sunday but it won't stay that way. At least we'll start to get a glimpse of spring.

@43 Nancy, I too have saddle sores... Sorry, The Secret River , and now The Colour - and even Study in Scarlet! I think I need a break from the frontiers once I finish my current read!!!

@44 Woot Mark! Your first 5 star read this year!I'll to stop by your thread to check out your review.

@45 Oh Ellen! I must get off the saddle for now, no matter how good the read is! :)

@46 Thanks Tina! Well, when Vancouver is not raining and overcast it is definitely breath taking. Today was not one of those breath taking days! :) But it only drizzed and was about 50 F - not too bad!

@47 Great review of The Purchase , Nancy! Enjoy your current read , I can't wait to see what you think of it. If you must get back on the saddle - who am to stop you! :)

@48 Well - Nancy will have to check on that one Mark aka Lone Ranger!

@Oh Bonnie! Nice that is is climbing into the mid 50's on the weekend. Last I checked it was supposed to be sunny this weekend - but weather can change very quickly on the coast. I 'm really enjoying my small glimpses of spring. And this weekend we " Spring Forward" - so we will another hour longer of daylight! Nice! I assume it's the same for you? That makes such a difference!

Deb, I just noticed on Lori's thread that you haven't yet read Snow Falling on Cedars. That is a fabulous read! So, if you need to get out of the saddle, LOL ... (I'm I being persuasive enough?).

LOL Nancy!! I've got a just a few pages of The Colour left , and then I have to ponder on a review. Unlike you, it can take me a day or two to create a review. I'm not sure what it is next in the reading category , perhaps Family Album by Penelope Lively, or perhaps The Hound of the Baskerville
or... I'm just not quite sure! :) Snow Falling on Cedars is in the mental TBR pile... but thanks so much! :)

He, he - The mental TBR. A dangerous place for a book to be. I have placed many there too, Deborah - but absent-minded as I am more books are probably placed there than I'm aware of :) Of course I'm rooting for Baskerville! You know me.

Are you and Nancy really having saddle sores? Or do you just hang out at the bars in the western towns, to pick up the latest gossip over a shot or two? I just wonder....

The last few days I've been trying to figure out my next 1001 Books to read - after A Prayer of Owen Meany - two books have just arrived Franny and Zooey and Invisible Man and I got A Breakfast at Tiffany's also waiting. Two short reads and a long. I think I go for the short ones.

Well, Carsten, instead of getting myself a HUGE TBR list, I've decided unless I really must read a book, or think I cannot remember it, I've created my mental TBR's. Speaking for myself, I must admit I have had my share of rough frontiers, Australia, New Zealand, North America. I think it's time to dismount (when I finish my current book - just pages to go ) and go mysterious or domestic or something like that. I'll admit to having a coke -cola today while I read my current book. As for Nancy , you will have to ask her if she is " bar fly." Nothing would surprise me.

Hmmm- go for the short one, I say Carsten - A Prayer for Owen Meany is a big read. I've not read any of your TBR's - so I cannot help you there except to say - go for the short for a change!

Oh, TBR piles... such a dilemma with each and every one. I have short stacks, tall stacks and piles bhind my chair.. sigh. Why won't shelves just stretch to hold all of my books?

LOL, Deb and Carsten, you are TOO much! I'm also a non-imbiber, so you and I might have some fun bar-flying about, Deb, in our western towns! Beauty of it is, on Coca-Cola shots, we could remember the great gossip! Do let's go!

#53 Breakfast at Tiffanys is short and quick - fun too.

Passing wavies to Deb!

@55 Oh I know, Kathleen, those pesky TBR piles and yet sometimes nothing appeals! Or everything appeals and one cannot decide!

@56 Carsten and me -we's a jiving you . Nancy a - non - imbiber? Coca - Cola shots! I'll drink to that!!!

@57 Hey Bekka, thank for the advice to Casten - I'll pass it along and keep it in mind for myself!

Waves back!

I have Breakfast at Tiffany's to read as well, and I really want to bump it to the top of one of my lists, but I realise that just making a new list of books to read doenst actually shorten the other lists I already had.
At least I get an A for effort!

Had a great day! It was finally very nice and sunny out!! I went into the downtown area of Vancouver and did some walking , shopping, and browsing around. What a beautiful day! Finally spring is here , at least for a couple of days!!!Hubby and enjoyed taking in BEAUTIFUL VANCOUVER!!! Really we did! It is so lovely here! The primroses are in bloom , as are the crocuses, some hardy daffodils - and I even saw pot of beautiful purple pansies!! I have to say that purple pansies are one of my favourite flowers!

So a great day, but so far no reading got done!!! I am finished The Colour - but just pondering a review.

Hope you all had a great day!

Hmm Megan, we posted at the same time. I guess I'd better look into Breakfast at Tiffany's - I don't actually have it. I'm thinking that my next book might be Family Album by Penelope Lively but I'm not sure.

> I realise that just making a new list of books to read doenst actually shorten the other lists I already had.

It doesn't?!?!

Darn it!

*goes back to the drawing board*

#61 - Hi Deborah! I really loved the Penelope Lively novel I recently finished - Moon Tiger. I don't know anything about Family Album, but I'm definitely interested in reading her again soon.

@62 LOL Morphy, but it's a good try! You have some pretty sophisticated TBR graphs and lists!!

@61 Well, I'm really getting into Family Album. Yesterday I went into Vancouver via the subway, though here we call it the train or at least I do. We have skytrain, seabus( a ferry ) and the so called " Canada Line" which is partly above ground ( hence the name skytrain) - but it's mostly underground , so I've given up and call it the train. Anyway I was reading Family Album on the train and got so engrossed in it I nearly missed my stop. We've had three nice days of sunshine and temps as high as 52 F! I've just been busy enjoying the sunshine and getting out and about. Back to reading soon.

Of all things, yesterday while I was in Vancouver, I went into a bookstore looking for a book for my husband. He is a " newbie bookworm" and he seems to be hung up on a few authors. So I tried to find a different series that I thought he might like - Wyoming, a sheriff, modern times, mystery -suspense - and on the way home on that train I started reading the book myself and guess what - I think I'm going to read it after him. It's called
The Cold Dish: A Walt Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson. I was reading the author's notes at the back and it looks like he likes to break western stereotypes, has a sense of humour and a social conscience. Anyway, now I'm keen to try the book myself.

I'm going to write a review of The Colour I'm pretty sure, but every now and then I get " writers block." It was a 4 star read for me and one that I would recommend. It is dark tale, with a troubled brand new marriage. Harriet, the wife, is a bright and strong lady, but her husband Joseph Blackstone has troubled past which is hinted at the beginning , but does fully reveal itself til fairly late in the book. Joseph,his wife Harriet and Joseph's mother Lillian all travel to Christchurch New Zealand in 1864 from England. Anyway, I'll try to write a proper review later, but the book was very good read , but very troubling too.

You found a book store in Vancouver? Do tell . . . names and location, please.

Ohhh , nothing that special, Joyce. You know where the Book WareHouse ( I think it was called) just west of Broadway and Cambie on Broadway - south side of Broadway is/ was? It was supposed to close, but someone took it over. I think it might be a Black Bond Books now, at least that is what my " loyalty card says." It's nothing over the top like Munro's books, but it does have some different books and marked down books. This series that I found for my husband is nothing I've seen elsewhere. My husband loves to read, but mostly I have to order his books for him and find him new authors! I've tried to turn him onto " Scandi Crime" but no go. He likes a mystery / suspense, but with imperfect characters, not a bunch of sex, court room " junk" or superhuman type protaganists. So far he likes C. J. Box Robert Crais, Robert Parker and Lee Child . He is less keen on Lee Child.

The bookstore is at 632 W Broadway and well I think that the outside is billed " Book Warehouse" , the loyalty cards says Black Bond Books. They don't have a great selection, was much better before the new owners took it over in the past ? 6 - 8 months , at least it has some different books than Chapters.

Hi Deb, Craig Johnson's series about Wyoming Sheriff, Walt Longmire is excellent and for all the reasons you list. I am currently reading the third in the series and I can honestly say I've enjoyed all three equally, and I personally have a giant crush on Walt Longmire!

Ah, yes, Black Bond. They're a chain. We have one close by and I usually find something interesting in it. They have good sale tables and a decent Canadiana section. I can't believe how pathetic our bookstore situation is for a city of this size. Victoria has so many good stores--not just Munro's. Even Kelowna does better with its wonderful Mosaic (which I will visit when I'm in town next week).

Deborah, try your husband on Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder series. Minimal sex, imperfect characters, no courtroom junk or superhumans. Just one flawed man trying to draw straight with crooked lines.

Deb, how fun that you went book shopping for your husband, started reading what you'd chosen for him on the train, and in the process have discovered a new series for you!

@67 - Hi Judy! Glad that you like the Craig Johnson series. I hope that my husband will and bonus if I do! I won't tell your husband that you have a giant crush on Walt Longmire! :)

@68 Yes, Black Bond, they are a chain -and yet the bag that they gave me said something like" thank you for supporting independent bookstores"? Blackbond Books has an' outlet warehouse" in Lansdowne Mall, which I get to about 2x a year . It is hardly a " warehouse outlet" sizewise, but they do have some good bargains and often more British books than say, Chapters. Yes, I'm not sure what has caused the demise of independent bookstores in the Vancouver area. We used to have a some great bookstores. Perhaps the rent is so high in Vancouver proper that is the problem? I'm thinking of the Dunbar area and West Broadway area where they used to have some fabulous bookstores - and Granville Island. I was in Chapters at Broadway and Granville last Friday and I was disappointed at the lack of books. It seems to have been taken over by children's toys and magazines as much as anything. I guess more and more people are going for amazon ca , kindle, kobo etc.

Perhaps downtown Victoria is compact enough - and maybe a lower rent to be able to support Munro books, - and Mosaic in Kelowna? I don't know.

@69 Julia, I was thinking of Lawrence Block when looking for my husband yesterday, but they did not have any books by him at that particular bookstore. I'll keep that in mind. It was Mark that initially suggested C. J. Box to Dave - my husband - and I think that is his favourite author. I've got C. J. Box's latest book on pre - order from Amazon ca and it is supposed to get here Wed - Thursday. Really, what I won't do to keep my husband reading! Men can be so silly! My husband does most of the cooking and grocery shopping, so I suppose I can serve as his personal librarian.

@70 Oh Nancy, the irony of it! Especially since Carsten and I have been teasing you about your westerns! And here I pick up some sort modern " western" mystery book for Dave , and read the interview with author in the back on the train and think - oh this might be for me! LOL! Next thing I'll be back in the saddle with coca cola shooters!

Deb- I am disappointed in you, Tonto! You should haven been taking notes when I was praising the Longmire series. I have only read the first 2 but they are terrific and I have enjoyed them more than the Joe Pickett books. I am sure the DH will love them. I am also a big fan of the Matthew Scudder series, although I haven't read one in many years.

#72 - sounds like maybe they got into Deb's head at the subconscious level. What else have you suggested to her? This could be interesting ;-)

Lovely springtime photo Deb!

Joe Pickett (read several, need to get back to the series), Walt Longmire (read half of The Cold Dish, need to finish..it got a little slow...), they're all good, stand-up fellas, but I have to say, Travis McGee is my kind of guy. :)

@ 72 - Mark, You are the one who recommended the Joe Pickett books and I think that those are Dave's faves'. Oh so sorry, Lone Ranger that I was not paying attention to you when you were extolling the Longmire series! I was trying to find an author similar to . C. J. Box Thanks for the Matthew Scudder suggestion. I'll keep that in mind for DH.

@73 Joyce, Mark is one friendly, widely read fellow here in the 75's! He's suggested lots of books to me - and certainly books that my husband has enjoyed. And he has a great sense of humour don't you, L. R.!

@74 Thanks Joanne and thanks for yet another suggestion for DH. I'll have look out for Travis McGee for Dave too.

I've got C.J. Box's April 12 2013 release, Breaking Point arriving from amazon in a couple of days.

My current read Family Album is beginning to get darker...I'll be interested in the family secrets...... :)

Hi Deborah - I love the photo of Vancouver in the spring. Glad to hear you're starting to get some spring weather too.

The Colour sounds really good - I've had Rose Tremain's The Road Home in my TBR pile for a long time now.

Joyce- Yep, it's all in fun. I just got the biggest kick out of Deb's husband, suddenly becoming a book geek. How cool is that?

Deb- Series fiction is so difficult to keep up with, especially if your reading interests are all over the place, like mine. I want to get back to both the Longmire & Pickett series.
ETA- Longmire has also been turned into a TV cable series, but I haven't seen it yet.

Yes, a "newbie bookworm“ - your enthusiasm for reading seems to spread, Deborah !! - I guess he will just have to be patient and wait till you finish the book you bought him :)

I just got the biggest kick out of Deb's husband, suddenly becoming a book geek. How cool is that? I'm with Mark on that one. Now you have another subject to practice your "persuasiveness" on, Deb : ).

@76 - Thanks for letting me know about Rose Tremain's book The Road Home. That's going on my wish list right away, Heather! Yes The Colour is a definite to read - but I must tell you that it is dark read.

@77 Exactly Mark, it's all in the fun - reading and chatting in the 75 's. Let me tell, trying to keep track of Dave's series and which books he has read / not read is a big job !! ;) And it's really messed my amazon recommendations as well as the one's from the library!! Dave has sullied my pure reading with his series (not that I don't read series , just not his . It's been great to have Dave become a book geek , but it's come at a price! ;)

@78 Actually, Carsten, he's reading Cold Dish and I think he liking it. Last night I spoke to him a couple of times and he did not respond because he was deep into the book. That is usually a good sign that he is absorbed by the book :) But Carsten, apparently my husband is almost immune to my persuasiveness , isn't that always the way with husbands and wives? I tried to interest him in a variety of " Scandicrime" books that I have and love, but he says " I don't like reading those foreign names." Sigh. Books dismissed over "foreign names" in the reading? Oh well. Husbands!!!! LOL!!!

@79 - Nancy, here is the true story of how Dave become a book geek.... November of 2011 he had to have surgery on his foot and be home for about 6 weeks. He had to wear a cast which does not work for him to be at work. He is not much of a TV watcher, no sports , and so what he going to do? I asked Mark what series he might suggest for Dave and I went to the library and got Dave some books and a book geek was born!! Who knew??

As for my power's of persuasion family always proves difficult! :) I remember my mother in law warning me that my husband was stubborn and that I was erhem - determined - and thus we would have stubborn children. LOL!!! Only our eldest proved stubborn, our second son took after me!Determined young man, that younger son! :)

LOL, Deborah - "No foreign names" - Indeed a narrow approach to the world of literature :) Well, I guess not all bookworms like to travel as you do - but as long as he enjoys his home turf, I guess there's still a lot to choose from :)

Hi Deb, interesting how you turned your husband into a book geek. Did I miss the review of The Colour? I have it on my shelf so I'm interested but I see it's dark which is fine by me.

The Colour is now on the tbr pile.

Yah, for Book Geeks! We are not alone!!

@81 Yes, Carsten!! No names with too many vowels or consonants. LOL! I don't have any trouble with Scandcrime, because I am accustomed to Icelandic names via my maternal family. And it I'm reading an African book, I just make up my best pronunciation when I first meet the name in the book and then I am done. At least my husband will go to subtitled movies. We saw the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series of movies in the original Swedish. Well done, such a different feel from Hollywood movies, I thought!

@82 Bonnie, no you did not miss a review of The Colour. I've got writers block ( or else I've just been out enjoying the springtime too much.) But I can definitely recommend it.

@ Hi Linda - great to know that The Colour is in the TBR pile! Thanks for stopping by!

@84 Mark, Book Geeks Unite! I'm not sure if I could get my husband to wear that as a T- shirt, but I'll consider it! :)

I don't like reading those foreign names. LOL! You've still managed to create a book geek, Deb, and that was well done!

If you ever get over that reviewer's block, I'll be interested in your comments on The Colour. I've heard vague rumblings about Rose Tremain being an impressive writer, so I'll trust you and put it on the Wish List.

Good morning, Deb. Just checking in to see how you're doing. I can completely relate to your need to shift venues and settings for a while. The westerns will still be there when you're in the mood to return.

Blustery and gray day here today. The daffodils are blooming but I'm ready for the next phase of spring.

@86 Well, Nancy, it was more of a lucky accident. I will admit that I've encouraged Dave by purchasing the fav's in his preferred series. Honestly I did ask him am I your personal librarian, and he said yes. He refuses to get his own library card, telling me to choose out books for him , or if he's really desperate he borrows my library card right out of my handbag without asking me. What to do about these men, Nancy!

@87 Cammykity - I shall try to get a review for The Colour on my thread later these evening. I always create several drafts of my reviews and they don't come easily to me. But I am very touched that people seem to actually look forward to my reviews, spelling errors and all! So I shall try to get it together this evening.

@88 Yes, shifting venues and setting is a need I have. It's been dreadful here today - raining hard -I had to coax the dog along on her walks. I was reading that we've had the least amount of sunlight in 2013 for many years. I think in January I read that we only had 30 or 40 hours of sunlight in Vancouver. Apparently the greenhouses around here are complaining about how many hours they have to run their green house lights to get flowers to grow this year. No wonder I had a bout of spring fever over the weekend when we finally had a few days of nice weather!

I was reading that we've had the least amount of sunlight in 2013 for many years.

Ah ha! So it's not just me then! This unrelenting greyness is driving me batty! March is too late in the season to still be coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder. I can't remember a longer period of grey . . .

Full sympathy, left coasters. It snowed here today and the wind is high tonight. I'm yearning for a string of days with sunlight in them too, here in south central Ontario.

Hey Deb! That gorgeous image at the top of your thread reminds me that I DO DO DO have to go back to Vancouver and also Banff. We have just gone through 10 days of century-heat, so I will be glad of some cooler water (send me some rain, please!). I think The Colour is just going on my obscenely fat WishList.

At last the Review of The Colour by Rose Tremain. I should mention that The Colour was shortlisted for the 2004 Orange Prize and also is one of those 1001 Books .



The Colour is set in the 1860's New Zealand, a time of great immigration and a gold rush for that country.

Lilian, Joseph and Harriet Blackstone arrive by by boat from England to Christchurch, New Zealand. Lilian Blackstone, Joseph's mother, is a widow ruined by her late husband's gambling and has little choice but to follow her son. Joseph, as we gradually discover , is escaping the consequences of a sordid crime he committed in England. Oblivious to Joseph's past, Harriet is a 34 year old former governess, seeking her own home and hearth, who has hastily married Joseph.

Joseph initially starts with good intentions, as he says to Harriet:"We will not cling to familiar ways. We will imagine ourselves reborn over there. On the acres I am buying, everything will begin afresh." p15. However,Joseph's intentions quickly go awry.

He builds a " house" with sub- par materials, using calico fabric for the the interior walls. The house is far from civilization and any neighbours.Against the advice of others in the area, Joseph builds " Cob House" high on the hills, where winds and weather batter it.

Harriet, a strong, resourceful, admirable woman , bears up well and adapts to her new surroundings, planting a garden, procuring a few hens, a donkey and a cow. She also makes a great effort to meet and get to know her closest neighbours, a small family at the well built Orchard House. Meantime, mother and mother - in law Lilian despairs of the ill built house , the lack of culture and finds herself longing to return to England.

Joseph built the house by a creek for a water supply. He initially plans to create a pond at the creek, but in digging there, he finds a bit of "colour", that is a bit of gold dust. From then on Joseph is a man obsessed, spending months digging a the creek, neglecting all else and hiding his true reason for digging at the creek from both his wife and mother. Harriet and Joseph grow further apart, and in time Joseph's leaves Cob House, the farm and his wife and mother for goldfields over the Southern Alps. Joseph's lack of moral scruples worsen in the gold fields, and he is avoided by the men there. Joseph is a man driven by desire and greed.

The story touches on Maori culture, the Chinese who also immigrated to New Zealand, but not in a large way. There is some magical realism with regards to both the Maori Culture, and the Chinese man, Pao Yi. It was interesting, but not altogether believable to me.

A dark and interesting piece of historical fiction, and one which focuses on both the physical and moral wilderness that the Blackstone family encounter in the New Zealand frontier . The focus is on the moral wilderness, and that is what made the novel most interesting and darkly intriguing.

4 stars.

Haroo Deborah-
Just cheking in, hoping that Spring is bolstering your spirits and that your book-time is a plenty :)

@ 90 - Yes, Joyce, it's not just you or me. If I can find the link to what I read, it was startling how few hours of sunlight we've had so far this year, including March. Far too long to be without sunlight!

@91 Tui, I understand that you have had a LOT of snow and bad weather in Ontario. I guess I'll take the rain and gray skies, but thanks for your kind sympathy!

@92 Oh Prue, I dislike hot weather too! My sympathy to you too! I like it at about oh - max 74 F! The weather is always " interesting" no matter where you live, I suppose!

@ 94 Megan, I guess we posted at the same time! Well................ the spring is proving difficult to find with all of this grey!

Hoping for more sunlight as 2013 continues.....

The focus is on the moral wilderness, and that is what made the novel most colourful and darkly intriguing. Great thumb-review, Deborah. Seems like a gloomy family really lost in the wilderness. I don't think I've read anything on the immigration to New Zealand and Australia. Interesting part of history - criminals hoping for a new life.

...here it's snowing again. Come spring, and be quick about it.

84 - Love!!

Loving the "newbie book worm" that you have created in your hubby! How nice!

Great review of the Tremain too! Kudos all around!

@97 Carsten, The Colour is gloomy family story -but so much more I suppose. When Joseph Blackstone takes off to the gold rush, his lack of moral scruples really become more obvious. It's dark! Joseph Blackstone is not a likeable man.

@ Tina, the poor old newbie bookworm , it's a good thing he pays no attention to Library Thing!

Good morning Deborah!

I was using my card for my husband, too. He only recently began reading.. maybe three years ago. Before that it was magazines if anything.. But I recently took out a Neil Young book for him that he was enjoying.
After renewing it for him, he still hadn't finished it. Since I have an in with a local library clerk...I got him his own card...I sincerely doubt that he will ever visit the library and take out a book on his own, but who knows?

The Colour sounds good...

You got me with 'The Colour', Deborah. That one has to go on the wishlist.

Deb, fabulous review of The Colour, my friend! Woot! You got me with a story which focuses on both the physical and moral wilderness that the Blackstone family encounter in the New Zealand frontier . The focus is on the moral wilderness, and that is what made the novel most interesting and darkly intriguing. Moral wilderness ... what a perfect expression. Made me think of the conflicted family, Daniel in particular, in The Purchase.

eta: I love the cover of The Colour you've chosen

100@ Kath! Good Morning, but I think that as you are on the East Coast it is afternoon! I"m chuckling about your recently reading husband - having to renew the book for him! He could surprise as my husband has by borrowing MY LIBRARY card in a fit of desperation and going to library. My husband has even gone shopping for his own books :) I tried to explain that there is no shame in libraries or book shopping, just as there is no shame in taking the bus, another thing I don't think I could get my husband to do. You'd think we'd married some sort of wolves that needed domesticating.

@ 101 Julia, I really hope you "enjoy" The Colour. It definitely an interesting read and enjoyable - with the accent on interesting!

@102 You are too kind, Nancy. Well, definitely it is a conflicted family, somewhat in the way of The Purchase, but Joseph Blackstone is much less likeable than Daniel of The Purchase. As for the cover , that is is the cover that the second hand book came with. In it's better days, the pages of the book had "gold" on the edges - or " colour " but that has mainly worn off.

Well, it's not raining at the moment! Bravo for that. Overcast yes.

I know that quite a few people are interested in the author Joseph Boyden. Apparently he has a new book in the works, supposedly ready in the fall. Here is a link - that came in my email in box

http://blog.indigo.ca/fiction/item/1356-a-teaser-joseph-boydens-the-orenda.html?...

HI Deb
Sorry to see your 2013 has been a gloomy one so far! I'm hoping you get some beautiful sunny days soon! It's been +7 and sunny here for a couple days and thankfully most of the snow is melted!

Thanks for the link to Joseph Boyden's new book! I really enjoy reading his novels. I bought his last two used and loved them both so I think I will splurge and buy his latest one new!

Thumb for your review of The Colour which I actually own so now I just have to make room for it. Tremain is one of my favorite authors as is Joseph Boyden so I will be waiting for his new book with bated breath. I really have to go ahead and buy his short story collection as my library doesn't have it for whatever reason.

@105 Chelle, I hope we get some sunshine soon too! We did have a couple of days over the weekend which were sunny and that was fantastic! The temps are not bad , about 50 F , but it remains gloomy. Glad to send you a book bullet re Joseph Boyden! Glad your snow is mainly melted!

@ 106 Thanks Bonnie. You read so quickly I'm sure that you will get to The Colour sooner than later. I had not realized Rose Tremain had written other books, but one in particular has caught my attention - I cannot remember the name at the moment -that is the trouble with the mental TBR method that I am trying - I think The Road Home or Restoration or maybe both.
I'm glad to be the bearer of good news re Joseph Boyden 's new book. The info came into my inbox this am and I was pretty certain that you had asked about his next book a while back. It looks like it's not available til sometime in September 2013, but at least he has a new book on the way.

Deborah, you hottie! That's a great review of The Colour. I hope that you will now go on to become a real Rose Tremain fan. The Road Home was my book of the decade! I was not so crazy about Trespass, and my poor little brain won't call up the other one I've read. Her newest is a sequel to Restoration, which I haven't read.....need to. I really like her!
I have Moon Tiger and sort of forget to pick it up when I'm looking for something different. I could say the same thing for Joseph Boyden, doggone it.
As to husbands, mine is not a particularly voracious reader, but when he finds somebody he likes, he reads everything the man (always a man!) has written that we own. He likes Arthur Upfield and Jonathan Gash's Lovejoy to name a couple of older favorites. I can never recommend nor predict what he'll read and like. Nice to have a little mystery left in the marriage after 42 years, I guess.

Hi Deb- I really liked Three Day Road but for some reason, I haven't picked up his next book. I will, though. Hope you week is going well.

I think The Road Home or Restoration or maybe both.

The Road Home won the Orange Prize, and Restoration was made into a film starring Robert Downey Jr, Sam Neill, Hugh Grant, Ian McKellan, and Meg Ryan, among a slew of other notables.

Deborah, your review of The Colour makes me want to get to it soon. It's been on my WL for some time although I didn't know much about it. I've loved everything I've read by Rose Tremain.

I don't blame you a bit about wanting to be outside when the sun is shining and the air is balmy. We are going to have a day like that tomorrow. I have a lunch engagement, but plan to be out in the yard pulling weeds after that. And then there'll be some deck time with my book!

Great review for The Colour. Sounds like it's filled with great characterization and historic detail.

@108 Hi Peggy! Well, if I'm hot, it's only a fleeting thing! :) I'm going to have to get The Road Home on my wishlist. I'm really enjoying Family Album right now by Penelope Lively. I plan to get to Moon Tiger sooner than later. My husband has always enjoyed the business section of the paper and there he has one up on me.

@109 Don't feel badly, Mark, about Joseph Boyden. He's been in my TBR pile for more than a year -but I knew that others were eager to know if he was publishing a new book.

@110 Thanks for clarifying that, Joyce. Until I read The Colour I was aware that Rose Tremain had written so many books, never mind had a book made into a movie.

@111 Well, Donna, another vote from you for Rose Tremain. Yes, at this time of year, we have to take the sun when it comes. It's scarce enough here anyway.

@112 Thanks for your kind words, Katie . It really is filled with historic detail and very good characterization as you say. I hope you enjoy it if you decide to read it.

Hi Deborah - Great review of The Colour. I have to get to Tremaine soon. I'm glad you're enjoying Lively -- I've liked all that I've read by her.

@114 Thanks Beth! Yes I'm currently reading Family Album by Penelope Lively and I'm very close to the finish. She is fast becoming on of my favourite writers! Earlier today I had set up the book image and bit of a write up about what I've read so and then - poof - I bumped something and away went my entry - so I thought forget it for now! Frustrating when that happens!

Yes, computers! I hate to lose text. My Word is set to autosave every 3 minutes.

Yes I hate to lose a long entry too, Beth!

Well, at least today I got a second hand book in the mail - The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville. It's always a good day when a book arrives a my door -and a second hand one makes me feel even better.

It's always a good day when a book arrives a my door -and a second hand one makes me feel even better.

I agree about the books at the door--not sure about the second hand part, since the last one I ordered was pretty grotty. Have to read those descriptions carefully! But usually they're lovely. And getting books you want is always wonderful, isn't it!

Ohh, I think The Idea of Perfection is one of the library books sitting on the piles on my table presently, LOL. My reading is so disorganized. That is not to say I'm not enjoying my selections, I am ... but I'm so haphazard. Are you going to read Grenville next, Deb? I know this is one I will definitely get to at some point. I really loved The Secret River.

@ Joyce, my husband bemoans my book spending, so the second hand book makes him happier and I don't really care that much. As you say, you don't want a musty smelling one or a smoke smelling one, but so far I've been fortunate that way. Now that I'm purchasing books for me and my husband , heavens, it gets expensive! Yes, it's great fun to get books!

@119 Ha! You should see my kitchen table , currently occupied by books aplenty, Dave's , mine , the Globe and Mail, The Vancouver Sun, The Globe and Mail and sundry bills etc - and yes, including my new Idea of Perfection. My reading is disorganized too. Most times when I finish a book, I have to read bits and pieces of several other books before I decide on my next book.

I do think The Idea of Perfection looks very good, but the new Orange LL has caught my eye too!

Just looked at a couple more of the Orange LL selections which you posted reviews for, Deb. I'm much intrigued that one of the tags for Francesca Segal's The Innocents is "Edith Wharton/The Age of Innocence." Woot! The Age of Innocence was a 5* read for me, so now I'm taken! The Innocents it is, at least as a first pick, and my library presently has a copy.

I stopped at the library on my way home and was able to obtain a copy of The Colour. I hope to start it this weekend. Thanks for the recommendation.

@121 Well, as I mentioned on your thread, Nancy, once I saw that YOU had loaded up The Innocents I immediately took a second look at the Innocents and ordered it from amazon. Great minds and all and in my case a copy cat! You persuasive girl, Nancy!

@122 Linda I really hope that you enjoy The Colour !

I also had my eye on The Innocents - together with A Trick I Learned from Dead Men - but I like the variety of the choices - there's a book for everyone on the Orange LL. Detective, suspense, humour, romance, tragedy etc. oh, no that's right. No Candi-dust.

Hi Deborah - I'll be interested to hear what you think of The Innocents and The Idea of Perfection; I loved them both.

Deb, haven't been to my own thread yet this morning, but I'm tickled you also ordered The Innocents. Sounds like Carsten might also be persuaded. And I've just looked at A Trick I Learned from Dead Men and decided on Orange #2. Thanks, Carsten! No Candi-dust on the Orange LL -- whom do we address that concern to, LOL!

@124 Well, Carsten, I already had my eye on both the The Innocents as well as Trick I Learned From Dead Men. There is a wide variety of choices available with the LL Oranges. I like the LL of any prize because so often I find a fabulous read sometimes the book that eventually takes the prize does not even grab my interest. As for the Candi -dust, well, I don't think their are any Canadian Western's on the Orange LL! I have not even really figured out if there is anything Canadian at all!

@125 Hi Beth! I'm not sure when I'll get to the Innocents or The Idea of Perfection - but I'll be sure to report back to you! I think we have number for fav's with our authors and book.s I'm just loving Family Album by Penelope Lively. I think it's maybe going to be my first five star read. I just love her nuanced, spot on observations of more or less everyday life. Some books just resonate with a person. I'm quite sure that Penelope Lively is one of your favourite authors too. It's even make me look back and think about how much I enjoyed The Age of Hope and How it all Began.

@126 Well, it will be fun if we end up reading the The Innocents together. As far as I can tell, A Trick I Learned from Dead Men might be difficult to get - but maybe on Kindle / Ipad? You will get more out of it , Nancy, because you have read Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. I was looking into a couple more of the unknowns earlier - I'll have to a look and tell you which ones.

Im having a problem with remembering who was in on The Great Gatsby Group Read that I half arranged.
I dont think you were in, but just in case, Ill leave the link :)

Thanks Megan, but no I'm not in that group! I read The Great Gatsby for school at some point, and it was not my " cuppa" , which is not to say you won't love it! Thanks for thinking of me!

I looked into The Forrests by Emily Perkins. One newpaper ran two different reviews of the book - it's on the main page - the Guardian or some such UK paper, and one review I would say gave it two thumbs down , the other review, same newspaper, two thumbs up. I think I'll be skipping that one , from what I read. It's another LL Orange.

>130 vancouverdeb: I read The Forrests recently, Deborah! I loved the first half, and it descended into confusion and banality for me after that. I was thinking it might be a 5 star read initially, but it was not to be. No way. I was annoyed as I loved the cover so much I really wanted to love the content ;)

Oh thanks for that, Megan! One to skip, The Forrests. I did notice that it was a New Zealand author. Thanks for the heads up!

Hi Deb, I just wanted to come by and thank you. I am pretty sure you are the one who recommended Daughters Who Walk This Path to me. I found it a very inspiring read, hard to believe it was the author's first novel.

Did some research earlier today, and you're right, Deb, that A Trick I Learned from Dead Men is going to be hard to get our hands on here, at least for now. Can be ordered used through Amazon, but I'm not going to do that. Wonder how I find out when it will be available in Canada? (It was available on iTunes, but only in UK, not Canada ... grr).

@133 - yes, Daughters Who Walk this Path was a five star read for me!I just loved it last summer when I read it. I'm so glad that you wrote a review, which I thumbed. I hope it will become more popular , because I really think it deserves that Judy!

@134 Nancy, I was on your thread before mine, and yes, it looks very frustrating to get A Trick I Learned from Dead Men. I checked amazon too and no way am I going to pay the price of 45.00 for one of the books that it was for sale second hand! I'll have to re- check amazon ca. When I checked it indicated that you could get it in audio for your kindle, so I assumed that it would be available at audible com. Maybe not. At any rate, while my old kindle is " audio equipped" only in the manner of a robot speaking to me, as far as I know, so amazon's audible option won't be used by me. Frustrating yes!

Okay, so crazy me, I purchased A Trick I Learned from Dead Men from the Book Depository,so I should have that LL Orange in 10 days to 2 weeks. I've also got The Innocents by Francesca Segal on order from amazon ca. I've only read The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman of the other Orange LL. I'm not sure what other Orange LL that I will read.

Another sunny day here - one of the few - supposed to rain again tomorrow.. so chat with you later! :)

Wasn't it glorious today? We want more!! I started the Reluctant Fundamentalist and got hooked right away. Good for you for hunting down the Oranges! (I like the old name too).

@137 - Yes it was a glorious day , yesterday and today! So glad that you are enjoying The Reluctant Fundamentalist. That is one I have yet to get to read.

Review of Family Album by Penelope Lively, my first 5 star read of the year!



Penelope Lively is gifted with the ability of acute observation, both of characters and the seemingly mundane activities of domestic life. Her writing is suffused with wit and sensitivity, and while the story is not plot driven, I was captivated throughout the read.

Allersmead, a large Edwardian House in Britain, is where parents Charles and Alison Harper raised their six children, Paul, Gina, Sandra, Roger, Katie and Clare. The family also employed an " au pair" Ingrid, who interestingly remains with the parents long after all of the children have grown up and left home.

Father Charles is a somewhat detached husband and father, busy writing books on other societies, including how such societies raise their children. He ponders on societies where " the care and supervision of the children is more or less a collective affair." " The kibbutz has always seemed to him to have been a an eminently sensible arrangement" , as have African Tribal systems" in which all women keep an eye on all children, and men get on with whatever they do." p 37. From those quotes, you can get a good idea of Charles parenting style .

In contrast, Alison is an " earth mother". p19 "For Allison, Allersmead is a kind of glowing archetypal hearth, and she it's guardian." " All she ever wanted was children, a house in which to stow them , and a husband of course" p33.

As the story opens all of the children have grown up and left Allersmead. Interestingly none have children of their own, and all live lives very independent of one another. The family is far flung , physically and psychologically. Only Charles, Alison and the au pair, Ingrid, remain at Allersmead,. Paul, the eldest son who tends to run into trouble, comes and goes from the family home.

Gina,aged 39, makes one of her rare returns home with her boyfriend Philip. Philip,the product of a very ordinary two child family, is fascinated by the large family that grew up at Allersmead, and so the recollections of family life begin. That sets off the individual and collective memories of all six of the children who grew up at Allersmead, each one with his / her own chapter though written in the third person.

The dynamics of the family in the past, present and future are captivating. Yes, there is somewhat of a dark , shadowy secret to the family , which, as in most families, is pretty much universally known to all, but never openly acknowledged.

It's always the mark of a fabulous writer , like Penelope Lively, when spot on observations and wit can keep the reader glued to the pages , while seemingly dealing with the mundane.

5 stars

Wow, a 5-star read from you has to go on the wishlist, Deborah! Nice review.

I've also read one other book, which I am practically embarrassed to say I read, as I am not a fan of " self - help " books, nor do I regard myself as much of an introvert -and if I am, I don't think much about it. What I was really looking for was a book on " how to cope with people on facebook and social media without being driven" mad". I could not seem to find such a book. I'm not really driven mad by facebook, but it does get to me at times. I quite dislike people who post their political views every day, or their religious views, or how the youth of today is all shot to heck etc. I'm not sure that this book addressed that at all, but a short chat with my son did. He said -that's why I don't have a facebook page, nor do I communicate via email - I phone people or make a quick text or email and then quickly follow it up with a phone call or personal visit. Anyway, none of you that I know one facebook fall into that category , but an uncle of mine does, along with some family members. Best answer - stop following those people which I have done.

So, 3 stars to The Introvert's Way by Sophia Dembling, whose book was okay, but when she said " go to your happy place" that did not happen for me and I thought how silly Blessedly short at just over 200 pages, but still padded

Thanks Julia@ 140 - for some reason I have just loved both of Penelope Lively's books that I have read this year. I'm not sure what book is up next -but I am going to go eat a late supper! :)
Yes! Bravo to a 5 star read!

Deb, your review of Family Album is superb! So glad you enjoyed! I love this: The dynamics of the family in the past, present and future are captivating. Yes, there is somewhat of a dark , shadowy secret to the family , which, as in most families, is pretty much universally known to all, but never openly acknowledged. Woot! Isn't that the truth.

Interesting comments on The Introvert's Way. I am definitely an introvert, and appreciate your son's wisdom regarding an already too-noisy world: "That's why I don't have a Facebook page."

@143 Thanks , Nancy! I really did so much enjoy Family Album by Penelope Lively. The Introvert's Way was not too bad and I suppose it shared a few ideas for introverts and perhaps the differences in how introverts and extroverts look at the world. I think I stradle the line between and introvert and an extrovert. Gosh, that makes me sound like a cowboy! When I think about it, my son is very likely an introvert. Those young people, they can really give good advice. :)

So glad that you liked Family Album so much. I haven't read that one so I 've added it to my Wishlist.

Congrats with your first five-star read, Deborah. When spot on observations and wit can keep the reader glued to the pages, while seemingly dealing with the mundane. That sure is a mark of a fabulous writer. Thumb!

"How to cope with people on facebook and social media without being driven mad" - LOL - that sounds like a perfect title for a book - could be a bestseller :)

I wrote an article for a Christian magazine a while back dealing with the issue of Facebook - used this book in my research Church of Facebook: How the Hyperconnected Are Redefining Community - it might not be exactly what you are looking for, but I found so many interesting comments on how Facebook is changing the way we communicate and interact. (It's not really about the "Church" in that sense - more about community in every way) - Very informing and well-written - I was quite critical of Facebook and got a lot of responses on the article - several disagreed with me, but it's a touchy subject.

I finally had to block a friend's Facebook posts because of all the political ranting. He's not like that in person, thankfully. But I couldn't deal with the day-in and day-out negativity. What is it with people who think they have to say things over and over again? I got it the first time.

Hi Deborah - Great review of Family Album. I haven't read that one but will move it up the list. Five stars, hmm.

#139 Great review of Family Album Deborah. I keep getting recommendations for Penelope Lively's books from other 75ers so I shall also add this one to my wishlist.

#146 ""How to cope with people on facebook and social media without being driven mad" - LOL - that sounds like a perfect title for a book - could be a bestseller :)" If that book doesn't exist someone should write it because I bet it would sell!

The thing I find hardest about facebook is the way I can easily get a skewed view of everyone else's lives which can be quite demotivating if I'm not careful. Because everyone posts about important/happy events I can get the feeling that everyone except me is living the most amazing life - full of nights out with friends, holidays, children smiling, pets being cute - and of course, they're not, it's just they don't post anything on the days that nothing particular happens. Which isn't to say I think people shouldn't post about happy events, or that they should post when nothing's happened to say 'nothing happened' but just that I find I need to keep reminding myself that facebook is not a good portrayal of every day life. And stay off it if I'm feeling depressed because it will just make me feel worse.

Long ramble over.

I second third Carsten's thought that your phrase How to cope with people on Facebook and social media without being driven mad is the title of a bestseller!

@145 Something about Family Album really resonated with me, Rhian. It was just great read! I'll definitely be seeking out more books by Penelope Lively. I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!

@146 Yes Carsten , my first five star read! I'm pretty fussy with my five stars! I think the more books I read , the harder it is for a book to reach five stars for me. I think the large family and the dynamics kind of resonated with me . My family of origin had five kids and we all had our alliances and as the eldest , I did not exactly know the youngest as well the child next to me. The time line was also from the early 60's to perhaps the 90's. Unfortunately we did not live in an Edwardian Estate, nor did my dad write books about other family systems, but he did tell me not to pierce my ears and to dissuade me from that he did show me pictures from National Geographic of women in other cultures with huge pierced ears that dragged down to their shoulders. I pierced my ears anyway - but my younger sister went boldly before me to incur my dad's wrath. LOL! No au pair either, but when my mom announced to us that a 5th child was on it's way , she countered that with the fact that we were also getting dishwasher! :) Close enough!No ' dark family secret " either, but all families, I think, do have their unspoken secrets that everyone actually knows. So I guess you could say the book really rang true for me , in many ways - but certainly not all. I just loved Family Album!

I had no idea that my "How to cope with people on facebook and social media without being driven mad" would resonate with so many other people here on LT!!! I'll have to look for that book that you mentioned and good for you for writing a letter to the magazine. Carsten, it sounds like you are in the perfect position to the write the book that I am looking for! You are already published.... so you have an " in" !

@147 Oh Morphy! I know exactly what you mean about people's rantings on facebook , political, religious, or anti young people, all of which drive me crazy! And here I thought it was only me. I've had to block a couple of people stuff on facebook too. It is interesting what gets to people. My sister blocked a relative of ours who does not bother me, but my sister cannot stand the everlasting " Paint Your Pet by Mary" ads that cousin " Mary" posts.LOL!!! I guess we are all different .

@148 Yes, Beth, finally a 5 star read for me! Perhaps I'm getting too fussy? I hope you will enjoy it!

@149 Truly, Heather, I guess we have a best seller on our hands with the how to cope with Facebook and other Social Media on our hands. I'm surprisingly private on facebook and mainly just read and " like" other people's stuff and I don't post about myself. I think some people just " talk it up" about their lives, but I can understand how one could feel demotivated. Maybe I really am introverted because a lot of the time I think oh I'm so glad I'm not trekking the Manchu Trail in Peru, or off on group holiday with 5 assorted people because that would drive me crazy!I'm so relieved to know it's not just me that is has issues with Facebook!

@150 Hmmmm, Nancy, I think someone is on their way to riches!! Please steal my idea and help me out with ideas!!! Who is ready to be a published author? It's seems we have the idea for a bestseller on our hands! :)

Well, I've started on my next read , The Hound of the Baskervilles . Interestingly creepy so far! :) I'm sort of waiting for The Innocents by Francesca Segal to arrive from amazon ca, so I wanted a fairly short book .

Nice review of Family Album Deborah. I picked up How It All Began after you reviewed but those 5 stars are hard to resist. Thumb!

I have to agree with absolutely everything that Heather said about FB. I go for days w/o going on it.

@153 I hope you enjoy both How it All Began and Family Album, when you get the chance, Bonnie. Thanks for the thumb. Ditto for facebook! :)

Hi Deb! We watched the "Sherlock" episode loosely based on The Hound of the Baskervilles last week and it made me want to go back and re-read that one. I will do so in the next few weeks.
I am enjoying your consideration of the Orange LL novels. I think I may have to break down and pick up a couple of them in hardcover....

Love your review of Family Album. Lively is an author I need to try.

@155 I'm enjoying The Hound of Baskervilles so far, Ellen! As for the Orange LL, I've already broken down and purchased a hardcover from the Book Depository, because I could! ;) It's not available in Canada for - well, I'm not sure when. So A Trick I Learned from Dead Men by Kitty Aldridge is winging it's way to me.

I'm really enjoying Penelope Lively very much so far!

I've always been a softcover-only purchaser, but I can feel that starting to shift. LT. It's dangerous. :-)

@157 I used to be a very good soft cover only purchaser only , and then the " I must have it " bug got to me. Very bad! At least ordering from Amazon ca allows me to get hardcovers for a good price. I know what you mean about LT shifting our books and our reading.... maybe it's all a big plot! :)

He did show me pictures from National Geographic of women in other cultures with huge pierced ears that dragged down to their shoulders. I pierced my ears anyway. Ha, ha. Scare tactic that went completely wrong - I remember that being an issue at our house too - not me, of course :) but my sister.....

Oh, that "I must have it" bug - I know, I know, Deborah..... "I must have it" coupled with "I-Click-buttons" in the Kindle store - it's a deadly combination. But I'm actually glad I have my Kindle on an American account and iTunes on European account - that way I can usually get the novel right away if the publishers have either an American or Europe restriction on the novel. Usually....And when I have the bug, it can be quite soothing to have it delivered within five seconds....

Enjoy the creepy Hound of the Baskervilles :)

Carsten, what a brilliant idea to have Kindle on US account and iTunes on European account. And when I have the bug, it can be quite soothing to have it delivered within five seconds. Ah, bliss!

Just being sociable Deborah! No hope of catching up...but I did want to say hello :)

@159 Hi Carsten! I thought only my dad was that old fashioned, though that was a long time ago that I got my ears pierced - when I was in grade 6 or 7 - probably 7. I have my Kindle on US account too because I purchased my kindle via the USA. I could transfer it to Canadian, but then I would not get the books released into the US but not Canada - or maybe my Kindle is set for both the US and Canada? All I know is got to kindle com, not kindle ca - which I could transfer to, but I have not done so. Yes, when one get " wait" or the book is available in kindle only - that 2 minutes can be nice and quick for a new book! Nice deal with the European restriction! Oh I envy you, Carsten!!!
And yes I am enjoying Hound of the Baskervilles very much!

@160 Agreed, Carsten is brilliant and lucky to have both a European and a US account. Note to self - move to Europe for better access to books. Also, learn the Danish Language for faster access to Jussi Adler -Olsen. Tick and tick, Nancy!

@161 Hi Kathleen! Oh sure you could catch up! But thanks for stopping by!

Nice sunny day here today!!! A rarity!

#162I thought only my dad was that old fashioned, though that was a long time ago that I got my ears pierced - when I was in grade 6 or 7 - I got my ears pierced when I was 16 and my Mum hit the roof!

@163 - LOL! Rhian, you were 16! I think I was 12 or 13, most likely in grade 7 , still in elementary school. But ALL THE GIRLS were getting their ears pierced and so you know how that is. I was afraid to disobey my dad wishes, though he did not say " No" - just showed up the National Geographic Magazines as deterrent , but my slightly younger sister went first. My mom and dad did insist that we have it done at a proper jewellery shop where it was clean and antiseptic - so it worked out. I think in the face of three daughters my dad had to cave in eventually!
Oh! And I had to pay for my piercing and pearl earring studs on my own. No parental funds were involved in said endeavor.

See, this is why I have resisted a Kindle. The combination of "I must have" (which is a bug that bites me very frequently) and the ease of "I-Click-buttons" to purchase..... oh no, I must save something for retirement. Of course, I still find ways to purchase the books I want, in person or via the mail.
There are worse habits to have.

Moving to Europe for better access to more books is a splendid, although expensive idea, Deborah :) I think one could also change between the different country settings on the Kindle - but a trip is much nicer :)

Right now I have my eye on the new Kindle Paperwhite - I know I should just stay with my iPad, keep telling myself that that is enough....but it does look tempting....and I feel that I-must-have-it-bug.

Hi Deborah - Great review of Family Album! Wow - five stars! I'll have to put that one on my wishlist. The only other Penelope Lively novel I have (besides Moon Tiger) is The Photograph, but I haven't read it yet.

#141 - I can relate. I hide people on facebook all the time and not just for politics. A woman I went to high school with is apparently an avid hunter, so she posts lots of horribly disturbing photos of deer carcases. Really?! Do you think the majority of people want to see that with their morning coffee. I'm thinking no, but maybe I'm wrong.

Great review of Family Album. I don't think I rated the book as highly as I could have, because it didn't seem quite as good as others of hers I've read but your review has reminded me of all the good things about the book and Lively's writing.

Facebook often leaves me feeling very faintly depressed so I don't go on there too often!

Morning Deb- Thanks for the continuing reminder to pick the Sherlock Holmes series back up. I keep making notes to myself and promptly lose them. Enjoy your day.

The Kindle Paperwhite ... must explore. Oh, save me from myself!

@165 - Ellen, I don't think the kindle has done badly by me. I think I may have 41 - 43 " books " on my kindle. That is not bad at all over I think about two years? I've probably saved money from not purchasing physical books. So, it's worked out for me. Now, talk to me about Amazon Prime where I paid $80.00 to get " free shipping " for the next year, no minimum purchase required. Oh yeah, that is tempting for me and DH!!! Yes, I'm thinking I might need some money come retirement! :)

@166 Ah the Kindle Paperwhite - you had me investigating the the kindle source. If I get another e- reader it will be a Kobo. A lot of books are only available in Canada by Kobo's format and that is also what the libraries use. Let me know how your - must -have -it bug goes. :)

@167 Great! Two more wonderful Penelope Lively books for me to get too! I really enjoy her books! I was reading that she is not in her 80's I think - what a prolific and wonderful writer!
Ugh - I would not care to see the carcasses of deer in my facebook feed. Yes, it's a dangerous place!

@168 - Wonderful to see you Dee!I think I read somewhere that you are reading Life After Life by Kate Atkinson - perhaps in the Orange Jan/ July section. Do let me know what you think of the book - I've got it on my radar. As for Penelope Lively - well, we are all different. I'd looked at her books many times before and never tried them, only to find that I've loved the two that I've read.

@ Morning Mark! Yes, here the Coast it is still morning and a sunny one at that! This has to be the best Sherlock Holmes so far! I'm really enjoying the evil spectral hound - or is it? Time will tell!!!

@170 Well, Nancy, maybe the Kindle Paperwhite will be bad for your eyes? Just trying to save you from yourself. But I suspect that if you are used to reading from an Ipad , the Kindle Paperwhite will simply open more opportunities in reading for you.....

Deborah, I have a Kobo Touch and I really love it. However, I am now coveting the new Kobo Glo which is just like my Touch but has a backlight for night reading. So far, I have successfully reminded myself that there is nothing wrong with my Touch and I absolutely do NOT need a new e-reader ...

Hi Deb, glad you loved the Penelope Lively read, I recently read Moon Tiger and really grew to love her style. I'll be looking for Family Album now too.

I dont mind so much people spouting their political views on facebook (I dont have many religious-view-spouters amongst my friends), what I mind is the advertising that is creeping into my "news feed". Suggested pages and the like, as well as pages that my friends have liked in order to enter a competition, coming up in my feed, which is blatant advertising. Im on there less and less these days, but still find it great for keeping in contact with old friends.

Hello Deb - great review of Family Album - it's always wonderful when you have Five Star read. I have just bestowed my own first Five Star for the year - onto Train Dreams by Denis Johnson which was just beautiful and wondrous. I think Mark was singing its praises last year....Anyway, got to run and add Family Album to the bulging WL.

@172 Julia, It's good to know that you love your Kobo Touch. That might fit my budget. I was looking on the site , and the differences between the different Kobo's and I can see why you 'd like the new Kobo Glo. I've got a very light sleeper of a husband, so no reading in bed for me, even with a book light on my kindle ...sigh. but At least I know that I can't spend too much money since DH would be kept awake by the glow. hmmm maybe I can see the Kobo Touch in my future... but I'm not sure that DH sees it that way.... ;)

@ 173 Megan, so many people have spoken highly of Moon Tiger that I 've got to get to it sooner than later. Right now I have a bit of focus on the long listed Oranges - just a few ...but you never know. It's funny what bothers each of us about facebook. I'm pretty good about ignoring advertising, but what I don't like is that fact that I have some relatives ( all very close to one another } and they "advertise" their self owned businesses in each other statuses. It bothers me a little -but for my sister, she has blocked them out. I think we do have a best seller on our hands - if someone will just write it!

@174 - Great to see you Prue. Yes, it 's been fabulous to have had my first 5 star read of the year. Hmmm - I'll have to have a look at Train Dreams by Denis Johnson.

What a lovely walk I had today with Daisy! Nice and sunny, no rain, met our " dog - human friends" and it was a very nice day outside today! :)

Deborah, don't you have a birthday coming up soon? Kobos make great birthday presents. :-)

Deb - I was in Mosaic Books in Kelowna today and they had How it All Began on their sale table, so I bought it. I will still read Moon Tiger first, but I thought I couldn't pass it off (it and a bunch of others too, including Helen Dunmore's The Siege, which I think is another one you liked). I always make a point of getting to Mosaic when I'm in Kelowna--their selection and prices are great, and for product I like them just as much as Munro's in Victoria (although the atmosphere isn't quite as nice). I wish we had book stores like this in Vancouver.

I will vote for the Kindle paper white. My partner has one and I covet it. And there's this great advertisement for it here

I think it's not so bad to buy hardcover books now, though, becasue paperbacks have increased so much in price that lots of times the hardcover isn't much more.

Thanks for the nice review of Family Album!

I think it's not so bad to buy hardcover books now, though, becasue paperbacks have increased so much in price that lots of times the hardcover isn't much more.

. . . and sometimes the hardbacks are cheaper (when they are on the sale table and the paperback isn't).

@176 Sad to say, Julia, my birthday was in January, so I've got a while to wait for that excuse for a Kobo...but maybe a wedding anniversary in the summer? A romantic gift, wouldn't you say! ;)

@177 Oh I am jealous, Joyce , that you were in a great independent bookstore! It's been a while since I have been in Kelowna and I was not aware that was great bookstore called Mosaic. I will keep that in mind. I sure you hope that you enjoy How It All Began , and yes, I quite enjoyed The Siege by Helen Dunmore. I think I gave The Siege 4. 5 stars. Enjoy! Yes, I wish we had such a bookstore here as well!

@178 Great advert, Rhonda! It's been so long since we've had sun - well , we did earlier today, I'm not sure if I can read my kindle 3 G in the sunlight or not. I'll have to remember to try it. As for hardcover books, with amazon ca , I can usually get a current hardcover for $14.00 - 18.00, which as you say, is cheaper or as cheap as the trade paperback version. I hope you enjoy Family Album if you read it. Thanks

@179 Very true, Joyce!I find some pretty good bargains in the hardcovers in Chapters.

#171 Yes, Deborah - E-books have the same flaw as music and movies - different formats, drm-protection and what have you. It makes sense to choose a device where you can have library-books and new Canadian titles.

#178 Ha, Ha, a very modern ad :)

@181 True Carsten, there area so many variances between E-books music and movies - different formats. For some reason Kindle has not yet allowed Canada to use Kindles with libraries, so it's the Kobo or maybe an Ipad if you want to e - borrow from a Canadian library. Yes, that is an unexpected ad in #!178 , I enjoyed it too!

Another lovely sunny day -but a wee bit chilly - but I'm not complaining!!!

#180 by @vancouverdeb> What could be more romantic than an e-reader? Much better than a vacuum cleaner (shudder) or even a dozen roses that won't last. :-)

@183 - Julia, I'll be lucky to get a card and a chocolate bar, but I'll see what I can do! :)

I finished off The Hound of Baskerville by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It's my third Sherlock Holmes book and one of the 1001 books that you must read before you die. It was quite enjoyable and briefly a wee bit spooky! :) 3.8 stars. Sherlock Holmes in no way compares with todays crime and mystery novels , but they are fun to read.

I've just barely started one of the Long Listed Oranges, The Innocents by Francesca Segal. So far I'm very much enjoying it.



These beautiful sunny days that we've been having for err - two days in a row - are playing havoc with my reading schedule! So nice to get out with the daffodils, blue wild flowers, the start of the tulip magnolias, primroses - it's still a bit chilly out but really lovely!

I do not need a kindle paperwhite. There is no reasonable reason for wanting one.
And yet... yet, I do. Sad, sad and greedy sad. ( just ignore me, except for the HELLO!)

I'm all caught up here now, Deb, and BOY, was I behind! You have been doing some great reading and I added a few to my WL, so thanks for that. Big plans for the weekend or just hanging out?

It was fun to read 'Hound of the Baskervilles' last year after hearing so much about it, and yet somehow still not knowing the story. It was just a bit creepy, wasn't it? Not as creepy as the modern TV version but still quite good.

I'm told that when I return to Seattle tomorrow, I will find tulips in bloom. Nice. I've been loving this snow but I'm also ready for spring, especially back home when I need to do real life.

There has been much reading of Penelope Lively around these threads. I must give her a try.

@ Oh Kathleen, don't berate yourself ! Just go and get a Kindle White. Now!:)

@ 188 No big plans for the weekend, Mamie, no. Husband is working on Saturday - he always does this 4 on , 4 off thing with work. But I did have a lot of fun last night when our eldest stopped in and he and our younger son and I got into a big conversation about correlation does not equal causation, stats and what ever silly things we could find to argue ( all in fun ) about. Adult children are so much fun! I love watching my two exchange knowing glances that mean " you know mom and how crazy she is". :) LOL! Like I don't know!

@189 I've not seen the tv version of The Hound of the Baskerville.Hmm - sounds interesting and I'll bet they could make it very creepy, Julia!. After reading three of the Sherlock Holmes series, I think I should rent the movie. The first time I saw it I was totally turned off. Now I think I'd get the humour better.

@190 So far I've not seen any tulips in bloom Ellen, but then again, you are about 100 miles to the south, so anything is possible!! :) I will say that the daffodils are starting to look spent - which is a good sign!! I just discovered Penelope Lively this year myself, and I think she is about 80 - so enjoy her books, if they are your thing. Sure took me a while to discover her!

Deb, tickled that you finished and enjoyed Baskerville and have started The Innocents. That's an Orange that is definitely on my list to read, so I'm very curious about your response to it.

Delighted the sun has dawned in Vancouver. We also had a glorious day today!

I've had the Hound of the Baskervilles on my shelf for years and have never found the right time for it, but now that I hear that it's actually creepy, I'll move it up the TBR stack. So hard to find a good creepy book.

Back home again--it was snowing on the Coquihalla this afternoon, then sunny, then sleeting in Hope and then sunny 5 min down the road. I'm happy to be back to regular Vancouver spring and am crossing my fingers that the sun holds out for a while yet. Have a good weekend.

I remember Sherlock and the Hound being very atmospheric. The Holmes' may not be very similar to much of todays thriller writing but Doyle through Buchan, Childers and onto Ambler and Blake wrote about the wrongs of the world in a manner rarely equalled and never bettered.

Have a lovely weekend Deb and it is nice to see that you are one of the few places in the Northern Hemisphere enjoying decent weather.

Glad you enjoyed the Baskerville, Deborah. I almost started with a long defense of Holmes, but I think I'll save it for one of my next reviews of Sherlock. I can't even begin to compare him to modern day crime fiction - The Victorian world of fog and gaslight and the unique character of Holmes himself is just too far away - I do think Sherlock is best in the short stories.

@192 Well, I've made somewhat of an inroad to The Innocents and I'm enjoying it. It's too early for me to make a judgement, other than I think I would like to read Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton on which the book is somewhat based. We are having a nice sunny day, Nancy! Perhaps spring is truly here!!!!

@193 I'm glad you made it home safely Joyce. As I mentioned on your thread, The Hounds of Baskervilles is creepy for a Sherlock Holmes, but not really particularly creepy.

@194 Paul, well it certainly is more atmospheric than Study in Scarlet or The Sign of the Four. And Baronet Baskerville is from Canada, something I had not expected! We fine Canadians!!! :) Yes we are having decent - actually lovely weather! That's why Vancouver is just the best city in the world! :)

@195 Carsten, I'll look foward to your defense of Holmes when you next read a Sherlock. Indeed, he does not compare to modern day crime fiction, but perhaps he was the father of that? I need to read my1001 books or check wiki! When I think of atmospheric I tend to think of Dogs of Riga by by Henning Mankell . That had such a fabulous cold war Latvia feel to it!

Yes Sherlock or Poes detective Dupin (haven't read him yet) would be considered as the father of the crime story, I think. I loved the atmosphere of Dogs of Riga too - When it comes to Mankell or Indriadson or the likes they fall into a more social realism that I enjoy but very different from Holmes I think.

I've bought P. D. James' book Talking About Detective Fiction and have to read it someday - but I want to cover some more classic and modern crime fiction before reading it.

It's difficult to imagine what it would have been like to read Sherlock Holmes at the time he was created. I imagine it was breathtaking, all the new elements of storytelling that Arthur Conan Doyle introduced. It's hard reading them now to remember that, because modern mysteries have adopted and adapted so many of those original elements that it all seems like old hat now.

Haven't read any Sherlock Holmes (shame on me, I know), but couldn't agree more with your assessment of Dogs of Riga, Deb: When I think of atmospheric I tend to think of Dogs of Riga by by Henning Mankell . That had such a fabulous cold war Latvia feel to it! That was an excellent read.

I thought you had already read The Idea of Perfection? I guess it wasn't you. I just finished it this week, so will be interested to hear your thoughts, when you get to it. I'm just starting The Light Between Oceans, and so far so good. The Forrests is in for me at the library - I'll give it a whirl next month.

I was always a Poirot> Holmes myself. But then, Poirot is greater than almost everyone:)

>200 lit_chick: well now I really have to read it dont I? I have had it on my radar for what seems my entire 3 years on LT, but still havent read it.

Hi Deborah! I'm glad you enjoyed The Hound of the Baskervilles -- I listened to it on audio last year, and it was a very atmospheric read. Yesterday a fifth grader asked me if we had any Sherlock Holmes books. We only had stories adapted for about 3rd-4th graders, but she checked it out anyway, telling me she had recently discovered him and was "wild" for him. That did my heart a lot of good! Too bad our library can't feed her Holmes hunger any more than that limp offering.

Hi, Deborah! Hooray for Sherlock and the Hound! I read Holmes the summer I was 12 or so - didn't get all the Britishisms, but I loved it...... I always associate it with being safe from summer thunderstorms, stretched across my granny's bed.
I'll be interested to see what you think of The Innocents. It's still a bit pricey for me used, so I'll wait.

@198 Carsten -and I think 199 Julia - I think you've hit the head on the nail in a way as far as Sherlock Holmes novels go - it would have been interesting to be a reader of Sherlock Holmes in the time of his actual writing . I suppose it was very new and breathtaking to people of that time. It is different to read it in 2013 , when we have such fabulous mysteries/ crime novels with more social realism and character development. While I enjoy Sherlock Holmes, it's a fairly dry read . But yes, we have to give Arthur Conan Doyle credit where it is due. You know, Carsten, I had the book Talking about Detective Fiction but I think I have since parted with it. I did skim through it at the time -but maybe now I would get more out of it. This time it will come from the library! Good idea!

@199 Julia, as I said in my first post, you've explained this perfectly re Sherlock Holmes . It's hard reading them now to remember that, because modern mysteries have adopted and adapted so many of those original elements that it all seems like old hat now. Exactly - very insightful!

@200 Agreed, Nancy, The Dogs of Riga had such a fabulous atmosphere - oh I could just feel myself there. Reading Sherlock Holmes is pretty easy - whether you enjoy the read of not, the books are fairly short - 120 - 165 pages long. Mind you I've had The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark sitting around waiting to be read - and it's barely 100 pages long - not sure -but do you think I can get myself to read that book? No!

@201 Elizabeth, I read The Secret River by Kate Grenville earlier this year , but I do have The Idea of Perfection in my TBR pile. I LOVED The Light Between Oceans when I read it last fall or late summer - not sure. Let me know what you think of the others!

@202 Which one do you have to read Megan -Dogs of Riga or Sherlock Holmes? :) Let me know! Either one is good!

@203 Great to see you Anne!Perhaps on audio The Hounds of Baskervilles is more atmospheric. I found myself guessing ahead what the solution was - perhaps Sherlock Holmes and I simply think on the same frequency? :) That's fun about your student finding the adapted Sherlock Holmes " wild". I know one of my sons read the books in there " adult form " with great relish when he got to ? grade 6 or 7 - thereabouts and quite enjoyed them. It's too bad that school libraries are not better funded.

@204 Oopps - missed you, Peggy , with just having posted. Great memories of Sherlock Holmes for you! I read Agatha Christie when I was at my grandparents at that age -so I have similar fun memories!

As for The Innocents, its quite readable -but I've got some complaints. I don't want to turn anyone off but here are my complaints at page 80 of maybe 325 pages - so it may improve. Well, I'm finding it to be a bit " Chick Lit " like. What I mean is that it seems like a light romance with a bit of social manner and comedy thrown in. While the book jacket says " sharply observed " I think - maybe you should try reading Penelope Lively and get a grip on things. I want to spank the main characters , especially the young man, who sends his finance love songs via itunes or something every night and say - act 28, not err - 15 or something. What it is doing is making me want to read The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.

I'm having trouble with the modern setting and yet somewhat old fashioned manners of the young people. I don't see this as an Orange winner at all, but that said, perhaps if you have read Age of Innocence you might get more out of it. And it may improve. Also, I'm not good with Romance . It's any easy read though, and perhaps that's the problem - lack of real depth - I'll have to read more.

I loved The Age of Innocence Deborah. As a matter of fact I've loved everything I've read of Edith Wharton's and I've been meaning to read more. Thanks for the reminder.

I've listened to an audio presentation of Sherlock Holmes but can't recall what the title was. It was done by BBC radio & was fantastic!

@207 Well, if The Innocents does not more then prompt me to read The Age of Innocence , it will have done it's job, in a round about way, Bonnie!

@208 Hi Peggy! Hmmm , maybe it's time I tried an audio presentation of Sherlock Holmes! Glad that you enjoyed it !

Deborah - Lots of good book discussion going on here. I loved the P.D. James book; you should pick it up again. I liked The Innocents quite a lot; I think you have to look at the society in which they live -- even though it is set in modern day, it is a closed society in many ways. Of course, The Age of Innocence is much better. Isn't it interesting though that so many writers are going back to "classics" for their inspiration?

171: I've written a short review of Life after Life. I enjoyed it but wouldn't recommend it to everyone. I'll be very interested to hear what you think of the book, Deborah.

I love my Kindle Paperwhite.

Wow, lively thread this morning, Deb! Hmm, I'm very interested in your remarks about The Innocents; if I am honest, it sounds a little disappointing. It may take me longer to get to it than might otherwise be the case. Will be following your thoughts as the book progresses.

#211 Dee, thank you for your thoughts on Life After Life. Have thumbed your review.

Anything that influences you to read the Age of Innocence is a good thing-it was one of my top 3 novels last year. I'm starting the House of Mirth today. Everything I've read by Wharton so far has been wonderful.

@210 Well, Beth, the book is improving, but I'm still just half way through. Still, I'm finding the choices that Adam, the main male character makes, implausible or else immature. The same with his finance, Rachel, who goes away on a holiday to Israel with her parents despite having her own flat and being engaged to Adam. After all, these two are 28 . Time to grow up, Adam and Rachael and separate from your parents and get it together. It's possible that I am just not a good romance reader, or that I have a practical streak. When I was 28, I had been married 6 years, had a child and was trying for a second child. I also have kids of my own now 28 and nearly 22 and they are much more grown up than this pair. It may be my own experience of life that is making me feel judgmental of the novel. If there was more depth to the characters, that might help me. It's an enjoyable but some how it does not ring true for me. Oh well!

@211 Oh you got your Kindle Paper White! Good for you! Thanks for writing the review on Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. I hope it works for me . Great review! Thumb!

@212 I confess, Nancy, I'm not seeing Orange winner or even short list with The Innocents by Francesca Segal, for the reason I mentioned above. I think I maybe I am not a good romance reader - plus yes, I think the book does have it's problems - lack of character development and insight into the character's behaviour. It might be in part my own issues. It's a pleasant enough read, just more lightweight than I care for.

@213 - Good to know, Joyce , that you've enjoyed everything by Edith Wharton. It may prompt me to have a look at The Age of Innocence, but not for a while -and maybe I'm just dreadful at reading romances. I'm not sure.

It may prompt me to have a look at The Age of Innocence, but not for a while -and maybe I'm just dreadful at reading romances. I'm not sure.

The Age of Innocence is definitely not a romance, so no worries there.

@215 Not having read The Age of Innocence, I hope that you are correct that it is not primarily a romance, but I have my concerns :) the plot summary on wiki seems to suggest its about social manners etc but is also a romance - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Age_of_Innocence
and quite a few of the reviews of The Age of Innocence seem to suggest that is a romance -but I've yet to find out. Here is one of the reviews from LT on The Age of Innocence.

Perhaps this is a good book for linguists and students of a prior NY sociology. I did complete this book as a prerequisite to attending a history class. I did however appreciate the art of under-statement and evasive or elliptic conversational skills evident in this work. This book as a Pulitzer Prize winner however was to me a disappointment. I read on but found myself reluctant to get re-started; as a consequence, it took me four weeks to complete my reading of the 377 page book. The vocabulary, the plot and sentence construction are first rate. Perhaps by osmosis I gained an appreciation of the static society and the mores of the “Gilded Era”. Only time will tell. Maybe this is a better book for romanticists than for those wishing to gain an understanding of the broad sweep of a historic age of the 1870-90 eras.

Of course I think we all vary in what we regard as " romantic" or too much romance. Here is another snippet from a LT review Despite his romantic notions of marrying May Welland, Archer is drawn to May's recently separated cousin, Ellen Orlenska who's most attractive quality is not her physical beauty, but the beauty of her mind, something the current Mrs. Archer, May, seems to lack.

I'll have a look at it, later on , but I'm not sure if it will be my cuppa tea! :)

Oh, my. The poor student. Over her/his head a bit? Sounds like someone who needs to change his/her major right away.

Yes, there are male-female relationships in The Age of Innocence. And I'm sure some readers would consider it a romance, as do readers of Wuthering Heights, Anna Karenina, and Sense and Sensibility. But those readers are also missing 7/8 of the point of these novels and all the other stuff going on. I guess if you're looking for a romance, these might fit the need, but it would be a facile reading of the novel (and in the case of Wuthering Heights, a very unhealthy one!).

So on a very superficial level, one could read The Age of Innocence as a romance. But yuck and what a boring way to read it. At least if you choose to read Pride and Prejudice as straight romance it's a little bit steamy, even if you miss Austen's point.

Maybe this is a better book for romanticists than for those wishing to gain an understanding of the broad sweep of a historic age of the 1870-90 eras.

Well, I have no idea what the writer means by "romanticist" but The Age of Innocence is a fabulous look at that historic age (granted, from an upper class view point). I can see why the prof would have assigned this book for that purpose.

The Age of Innocence may not turn out to be your cuppa tea, but to write it off before hand because you think it's a "romance" is to miss the point of the book and miss out on an excellent novel.

The Age of Innocence is not a romance regardless of what some half-baked history student thinks. To categorize Wharton as a romance writer is simply ridiculous.

Well, as I say, I will look at in real life and see if it is my cuppa tea! :) So, I've not written it off until I have a look at it and read a bit of it to judge for myself.

@218 I appreciate what you have to say and I don't suggest that Wharton is a romance writer,here is what wiki says

"The Age of Innocence centers on an upper-class couple's impending marriage, and the introduction of a woman plagued by scandal whose presence threatens their happiness. Though the novel questions the assumptions and morals of 1870s' New York society, it never devolves into an outright condemnation of the institution. In fact, Wharton considered this novel an "apology" for her earlier, more brutal and critical novel, The House of Mirth. Not to be overlooked is Wharton's attention to detailing the charms and customs of the upper caste. The novel is lauded for its accurate portrayal of how the 19th-century East Coast American upper class lived, and this, combined with the social tragedy, earned Wharton a Pulitzer Prize — the first Pulitzer awarded to a woman. Edith Wharton was 58 years old at publication; she lived in that world, and saw it change dramatically by the end of World War I. The title is an ironic comment on the polished outward manners of New York society, when compared to its inward machinations.
Plot summary

Newland Archer, gentleman lawyer and heir to one of New York City's best families, is happily anticipating a highly desirable marriage to the sheltered and beautiful May Welland. Yet he finds reason to doubt his choice of bride after the appearance of Countess Ellen Olenska, May's exotic, beautiful thirty-year-old cousin, who has been living in Europe. Ellen has returned to New York after scandalously separating herself (per rumor) from a bad marriage to a Polish count."

So while I understand that story is social commentary etc I do see that the book does that by writing about a romance. I understand that Wharton is anti custom -and in particular the institution of marriage.

We'll have to see. I really loved The Age of Hope which essentially was a closed society, and while not a romance, certainly a social commentary on marriage and children as well as feminism and the customs of a closed society. I really loved that book, but I thought it did a good job of looking at things realistically and also not writing about juvenile romance, though the characters were only 19 and 23 when they married.

You must remember I am reading a supposed modern take off of The Age of Innocence, The Innocents and it is most definitely a pie in the sky romance sort of a book, with no depth to the characters.

Hello Deb, finally managed to catch up here as well.
I absolutely adore your photo at the top of your thread, it's absolutely stunning. I wish we would finally get spring here as well. It's still absolutely horrible wheather.
Very good review on The Colour a book I had on my wishlist for some time. I even didn't realize that it is one of the 1001 books.
I have not read The Dogs of Riga, but his The Fifth Woman which was quite a good read.

@221 Lovely to see you, Bianca! Such kind words about my thread topper! :) Truthfully spring seems to be just beginning here! Finally some nice sunny weather for a several days and it's warming up!

I hope you enjoy The Colour if you choose to read it. It is dark, but quite interesting. I seldom realize a book is one of the 1001 books until I load it up on LT and find out!. Hmm - I have not read The Fifth Woman by Henry Mankell , but having a quick look at the synopsis and hearing that you enjoyed makes me think I should have a look out for it! Thanks for that Bianca!

So while I understand that story is social commentary etc I do see that the book does that by writing about a romance.

But if you read the Wiki description you posted, it doesn't say anything about romance or love. Marriage, yes. Romance and love, no. Many of the great novels of the 19th and early 20th century centre on love and relationships, but can hardly be considered romances.

Deb, I think that, however you choose to categorize The Age of Innocence, it is one you might enjoy at some point. I know it was one of my top ten reads when I read it a couple of years ago. The characters are beautifully drawn. I had read Ami McKay's The Virgin Cure either right before or right after The Age of Innocence, and I remember thinking that the two authors were writing about people from precisely opposite social classes. All of that said, it may not turn out to be your cuppa at all.

I'm disappointed that The Innocents seems to be so light-weight. I've got it in my iPad now, and will likely read it at some point. But I do hope it gets better -- no depth to characters does not sound like my cuppa!

You've been having beautiful sunny days? I'm sooooo jealous. & for not looking at the 1001 list, you seem to be hitting all of them. ;) I'll be interested to see what you think of The Innocents when you're all done. I tend to be skeptical of books that are riffing on classics, but some of them do work.

@223 Joyce, I can only suggest that you read further in that plot summary to read about love, sexually consummating their love etc etc in the link I provided.

@224 Thanks for your kind comments, Nancy, and your confidence in my ability to read and make judgements for myself - much appreciated! That is so interesting that your read The Virgin Cure right around the time that you read The Age of Innocence and your reaction to them. Since I too enjoyed The Virgin Cure, I'll be interested to see if I have the same take on things! Yes, I too am disappointed in The Innocents. sigh. Adam's engaged to his girlfriend of 10 years, and he loves her so much that he sends her a love song via itunes every night . Oh -but the minute he meets bad girl Ellie, "Her sweater had slipped down her shoulder, and he was acutely aware that her bare legs were at the level of his gaze, peach - soft flesh seamed lightly with long muscle. For one, brief moment , he felt an urge , vivid and intense, to reach out and slide a hand between her thighs.... p28. What a shallow guy - my thoughts. Later on, Adam surprises his fiance Rachel in Israel, in a bar ,surrounded by friends and Rachel's parents. "Let's go " Rachel said again, insistently , and then turned her back to Anthony , who was exchanging indulgent smiles with Adam. 'We're going to go and have sex now."..." Keep your voice down" says Adam " So? We're getting married, . We're allowed to do it. We have to practise making babies". says Rachel.

I feel like I'm reading a bad Harlequin Romance.

@225 Hi Katie! Yes, we have been having wonderful spring days! I feel for you with those winter days. Apparently it is supposed to warm up some this week, but the rain will return. Katie, I think you might be very right in being skeptical about books that are riffing on classics - or so I am finding with The Innocents. Maybe I'd appreciate Innocents more had I read The Age of Innocence first, but I am dubious. :)

Being as you have been enjoying Penelope Lively so much Deborah, I am popping round to recommend a book that I have just finished by another British writer of a similar generation to which I've just given five stars: The Unknown Bridesmaid by Margaret Forster. Forster's writing is perhaps a little darker and bleaker, but I think would appeal to anyone who liked Penelope Lively.

Deborah, your review of Family Album was excellent. I'm not sure I've read any Penelope Lively (not recently, anyway) but I second Rhian's recommendation of Margaret Forster - a great author.

Oh ugh, Deb the innocents does not sound like something that I would enjoy.
Are you going to stick with it to the end?

Glad that you are feeling spring on your side of Canada! We are still experiencing snow here :(

Always interesting here... I much preferred The Birth House to The Virgin Cure... in face the second disappointed me a bit, I had waited for so long for another book, sigh. Still... I will read whatever third book shows up...

Some very nice reviews and good thoughts here! Wishing you lots of good things, Deborah...

I also enjoyed The Birth House much more than The Virgin Cure. I feel like Kath, in that I was somewhat disappointed in McKay's second novel, having waited so long for it. Not that I didn't enjoy it, I did -- but my expectations got in the way!

Oh no, I had such high hopes for The Innocents as I did so love The Age of Innocence. I have three Orange LL books checked out of the library and two may very well go back unread. The Red Book doesn't look like my kind of book at all. I'll give Bernadette a try just to see what all the hype is about. Thanks for setting me straight on The Innocents, Deborah. The quotes above we're a compete turn-off.

>220 vancouverdeb: I think this may be a case of what I post being misinterpreted Deborah. I didn't mean to offend or belittle whatever choices you make about your reading and I apologize if that's the impression I gave you. That's strictly up to you. And I know that there's only so much time available to read and we all want to read books we love. So maybe The Age of Innocence isn't for you.

@227 Rhian, thanks so much for the suggestion of The Unknown Bridesmaid by Margaret Forster. It sounded so interesting, I've already checked out the book on amazon ca. They don't yet have The Unknown Bridesmaid , but they have several others. I'll be checking that author out. Great tip - thanks so much!

@228 Thanks Susan, for seconding Rhian suggestion and your kind words re my review. I'll definitely be looking into trying one of her books - I just have not decided which one yet! :)

@229 Hi Chelle! Yes, it is nice weather here today! Finally in the house it is 70 F without having to turn on the furnace -at least on the sunny side of the house! Thanks for the ugh! :) I'm at page 230 or so of 330 pages, so yes I am going to stick out The Innocents just to see what happens , and so I can properly review it. Other than wishing the young lovers could grow up and act their age ( if they were my kids I'd be so mad at them for shallow idiocy) the book is any easy read. Sorry for your snow! You have had it bad - I think BC is doing pretty well in comparison to the rest of the country.

@230 LOL ! Yes, it is always interesting here - or at least a lot of the time, Kathleen! I preferred The Birth House too, but I still enjoyed The Virgin Cure, but I certainly know what you mean! Thanks for the good wishes , Kath!

@231 Hi Nancy! I guess we are all alike in having very high expectations for Ami McKay's second book, but like you, I still enjoyed The Virgin Cure.

@232 Yes, Donna, I'm afraid that very likely The Innocents would likely be a disappointment to you , and like you, I've looked at The Red Book and it did not look like my kind of book. Those quotes are not isolated by any means, Donna, sad to say. I had great hopes for The Innocents based on it's reviews. I've still got a few LL oranges in mind, so it will be very interesting to read a few more.

I have an appointment shortly -so I must run for now! Thanks for visiting my thread!

Oh Deborah, I am so disappointed that you're not enjoying The Innocents as that was one of the Orange LL that seemed the most appealing to me. I may still try it but I am rather put off by the descriptions you gave.

I've loved everything I've read by Edith Wharton including The Age of Innocence. But I think you've probably had enough recommendations for that particular book to last you a while so I won't add mine :-)

>205 vancouverdeb: that one I meant was Dogs of Riga, I was drawn to it by its being set in Riga, a city I have visited, an I was repelled by it for it being a crime/thriller. But your talk of atmosphere makes me think I will read it afterall.

*staying out of discussion of Birth House and the Innocents, as have read/heard of neither*

Hi Deborah - I am sorry you are not enjoying The Innocents. I liked it more than you. I thought, since Adam and Rachel had been expected to get engaged and that they live in such a closed, close community that Adam's actions did seem plausible. The Age of Innocence is much better.

@233 - Yes, Bonnie, I think I did misinterpret your comment, thinking it was directed at that me, rather then that " half - baked history student" :-) No worries, Bonnie, should have realized that you are always respectful of people's book choices. Thanks for that!

@235 Thanks Heather! So kind of you to stop by. By now the whole The Innocents book debacle is making me chuckle! Who knew that a lousy Orange read could cause such consternation amongst us. I was reading some of the reviews on LT on The Innocents and some gave it 1. 5 stars and others 4 or 5 stars - so you never know what you personally will like. Give it a try. If nothing else you can get a good chuckle.

@236 Ohh I do hope that you enjoy Dogs of Riga if you decide to try it, Megan! I really enjoyed it. If memory serves and I'm not sure if does, I'm not sure if much happened thriller/ mystery wise, the atmosphere overshadowed the whole book. It was a great read!

@237 Beth, for me it just does not ring true at all, but that is just me. I'm not even really buying into the close , closed community bit , in part because there is really no depth to that in the story. I feel like there are a bunch of characters , none of whom are described with much depth. Maybe if I lived in a community such as that , I could understand that better. I've grown up amongst many Jewish people and I've not found them to be closed or close. Even now, we have quite a large Orthodox Jewish community around us, where all of the woman and girls wear dresses or skirts all of the time, the young boys are in suits quite young and wwar skull caps. They walk to temple, etc but even so they mingle with all of the kids in the neighborhood and I think one could not have friendlier , more open neighbours. And even if one lives in closed community I think Adam should act his age! Perhaps that's the old lady in me coming out or my "mom" instincts.

Well , just another 100 pages or so of what I am now finding to be humourous . Maybe it will take a turn for the better at the end?

Deb, so far I'm thinking that I will be able to skip The Innocents although I am very much enjoying the discussion of it, Wharton, etc.
I hope you are having a good week up there in Vancouver!

@239 Ellen, I'm glad that you are enjoying the discussion of Wharton and The Innocents! LOL! I feel safe in saying that yes, you skip The Innocents , unless you just want to read a Orange LL and it happens to be The Innocents. I just cannot believe the shallow nature of the characters, Adam in particular. Oops - my husband on the phone

Deb - I hope you got outside today! It was spectacular. I was walking around in a T-shirt. Love it. My older daughter is in England right now and posted a picture on FB where she's obviously freezing. . . . and here I'm sitting with my kitchen door open.

Hi Deb- It looks like you are stirring up quite the conversation over here, Tonto. I thought you were supposed to be quiet and laid-back. Glad to hear I can take a pass on the Innocents. I was a big fan of The Age of Innocence, along with two other of her books. She's a great American writer.

@240 Joyce, I did not get out much yesterday, but today I am planning to so. It's supposed to nicer today than yesterday!

@241 Oh Mark! You know what a Peace Maker Tonto is! But there are some who like a good discussion!! :)Who am I to stop them?? ;) Thanks for visiting, stranger!!! hugs to you L.R.!

Well, I finished The Innocents by Francesca Segal. It was an easy breezy read, for me , too much reminiscent of " chick lit" which I usually avoid. Since it was from the Orange Long List, I was surprised at the lack of depth to the characters, and for me, the lack of depth within the story itself. I felt that Adam Newman was simply too shallow to be believable. I could not believe that someone would marry some one just because they felt that they had to do so, which I really did not buy into. Adam's sister, from the same cultural and family milieu was able to buck tradition and go off on her own, but Adam was not able to do so. It also seemed that gay relationships where okay within that same milieu, and even celebrated by the older people within the community. Thus I was not able to understand " the pressure " of the closed community that Adam found himself in. It seemed pretty liberal and open to me. I felt rather sorry for Rachel, who I did not feel was innocent, lacking in knowledge, she just appeared to have an immature boyfriend , then fiance and then husband. I felt turned off by Adam as he found Rachel perfect one moment, too plump another moment. I also did not believe that after dating a woman such as a Rachel for 10 years, getting engaged, that the simple meeting of Ellie, the " thin" bad girl would so turn Adam's eye. And if it did - and it did in this story, I felt Adam was a shallow cad. Come on, Adam is 28, far too old to be acting like an immature 15 year old. At least that was my take. I did not mind the ending.

Overall, I felt that the book was very shallow, not much insight into the characters, and very lacking depth in many ways.

This is not a review, just a few quick thoughts

It was not a total write off, and I'm sure it will find an audience, just not a Orange LL book, in my opinion. It may be very interesting to those who have read The Age of Innocence and can compare that the two novels.

3 stars.

I've started a new Orange LL 2013 book, Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. It is about 500 pages, and I am only about 55 pages in. Initially I was not sure if I would do well with the premise of the book, that is Ursala being born and dying repeatedly , with different consequences each time, but I'm finding it intriguing and well written so far. Last night I added several newspaper reviews of Life After Life on the main page, if you are interested.

I did not like the movie Groundhog Day, so while I very much like Kate Atkinson as an author, I was not sure if this book would work for me, but so far, so good. I'm quite enjoying it!

I hope to get around to your threads later on. Yesterday I had a " dental emergency " come up and today it once again nice and sunny and I hope to enjoy that!

What was is about "Groundhog Day" that you didn't like? Just wondering. I thought it was entertaining the first time I saw it, but not one that I'd buy for my DVD collection. (And now I've seen it too many times because it comes around on TV so often and my husband watches it while he does stuff on his laptop).

Deborah, sorry to hear about the dental issues, but good to hear that you've moved onto a better book! I love Kate Atkinson but the premise of this one doesn't grab me, so I'll be looking for everyone's reviews to see whether I should change my mind.

@246 I love Bill Murray as an actor, I think that he is so droll. But the re -awakening to the same day each time bored me and drove me crazy. It's been a long time since I've seen the movie - I think it was put out in 1993. So, I wondered whether the idea of someone dying and being reborn numerous times , as in Life after Life would turn me off too, but so far, not at all. Bill Murray was just re- awakening on the same day, so that is slightly different.

Sometimes I think it is difficult to answer a question of " taste" - in books, or in as in " what is it that you like about that type of chocolate, coffee, wine" etc. I think it's just a matter of personal taste.

@247 - Great idea, Susan, to check out other reviews. I really rely on them for my LT reading! I even take my I- phone to the stores and while I'm at a store , I take a sneak peek at LT's reviews of a book that I am considering! Good for you, Susan!

Hi Deb. Long time getting here, 'eh? I am sorry about the dental emergency. Those can be the worst!
I hear such good things about Kate Atkinson and have the book on pre-order so can't wait until the 2nd. And I can't believe that I've never read her so I am happy to be getting this one and I can see what all the shouting is about.
Loved Groundhog Day. I just found it funny and strange and wistful and everytime I watch it I think: wish I could do that for just one day. Ha ha; of course for one day.
Enjoy your read and take care of that mouth.
hugs,
belva

"Droll" is a great way to describe Bill Murray! I hear you about the same day-same day being sort of crazy-making. When I see that movie now, Andy McDowell (was that her name? Anyway, the pretty lead actress) drives me a little crazy. She so pure and perfect, and in being so is a prig. But I still love her long curly dark hair.

Oh, yes Groundhog Day - sort of the same premise - unlike you, Deborah I loved the movie - but then again I love "droll" Bill Murray - and the idea that he gets all these chances to get one day right in his life. Even if it takes him "years" to learn to better himself. Remember watching it with two friends back then and everybody just laughed and laughed - one of the best experiences in a movie theater ever. The humour just resonated with all of us in the theater that night and that does not happen often.

I look forward to your thoughts on Life after Life - ok, so I bought The Innocents but now I'm not sure.....I will put it on hold, just for now.....

Deb, busy thread today! Appreciate your remarks on The Innocents; well said! I'm about a third of the way through, and honestly I do not know how much I'd enjoy it as a stand-alone novel. I am enjoying the parallels to The Age of Innocence.

Delighted you're into Life After Life and enjoying it! Yay! No question that Atkinson is a good writer, but I'm pleased that you are also enjoying the premise. (and I'm encouraged because it's one that's also on my radar!)

Hoppy Easter!

Hi, Deb! I appreciate your thoughts on 'The Innocents'. It sounds like you had a thoughtful basis for your dislike and really that's all anyone can ask for.

Best wishes on your dental emergency. That is no fun at all! I hope it won't interfere with your eating as many chocolate bunnies and eggs as you want this weekend. :-)

@250 Thanks for visiting my thread, Belva! I'm glad that you finally " found " my thread! :) You know, I was waiting for the pre- order of Life After Life on April 2 too -and then I was at the library and noticed that it was all out!!! They have a book - sized board that tells you if a book is all out of it's pile - so that is how I realized. That was last Wednesday. I thought what ! - the library has it and even has processed it so I rushed right away to Chapters Bookstore where they had 14 copies -so that was a good day! I hope you enjoy it too -though as I say I am still at the start, really.

@251 I do love Bill Murray, Joyce, just not that particular movie. I remember thinking that Ghost Buster's was really scary the first time I saw it! I absolutely loved The Man Who Knew Too Little, which starred Bill Murray -that was a such a crackup! You are reminding me of a couple more movies that I loved - believe it or not, the Austin Powers Movies. I remember seeing the first one with my husband and positively choking with laughter on my coca cola. Meanwhile my husband kept looking over at me and rolling his eyes at me. That only made me laugh the worse. Another one I loved, with Will Ferrell was Zoolander! That I saw as a video and my sister had to convince me that I'd like to see it. What a hilarious movie. I don't think that there have been any great comedies lately, or do you know of some?

@252 Carsten, oh it is always fun to go with a group and all have fun together - that definitely makes it more fun! I remember - this is dreadful - going to a movie with a big group of friends and a of them couple were overweight - not that much, but still, their seats collapsed on two of them. I was not quite sure how to react. I don't even remember the name of the movie, but it was an old movie theatre and I suspect the seats were ready " to give way" anyway. That was quite the experience. That was at The Stanley, Joyce, it has since been decommissioned.

I'm not sure how you will or will not like The Innocents , Carsten, but since it is a quick read , you can probably chance it. Have you read The Age of Innocence ? I have not, but if you have you might find it interesting as Nancy is.

@253 Nancy, I always love your cute little animated holiday celebrations!Happy Easter to you and all of you! I am glad that you enjoying the The Innocents with the parallels toAge of Innocence. I just kind of tossed off some of my thoughts, my mouth is still bothering me.

@254 Hi Julia! Thanks - I felt that I did have a thoughtful basis for not being " keen " on The Innocents , but that said, another person might find it to be a 5 star book for them. In part I wondered how much the fact that I have two sons in their twenties played into how I read the book. I don't actually believe in spanking at any age, but I kept wanting to spank Adam in particular. If Adam was my son he'd get a good talking to!


Still having pain the lower part of of one side of my mouth. Apparently it is due to bone loss ( from an impacted wisdom tooth removed some years ago and also " I am getting old" and this just happens to old people. ' So the dentist adjusted my bite, but told me that the pain is caused by exposed bone and nerves and that he thought that what he did would fix the problem, but if not , phone next week and they can paint a " veneer" over the exposed area. I suspect that I will be doing that early next week after the dentist is back. At least I know it's not an abcess or cavity. I'm finding myself in some pain and taking advil every 6 hours or so, which in turn bothers my stomach. Maybe I can lose two pounds over the weekend? Bonus! :) I have big Easter Dinner on Sunday that I am going to - but I think I will be okay. The advil so far seems to be providing a fair bit of relief. Of course my husband is working over the weekend, so no rest for the wicked. Still walking the dog, sore jaw or not.

Happy Easter everyone! Nice sunny day here and it looks like the picture at the top of my thread! Not exactly because I live in a different part of town, but all of the cherry tree blooms are in bloom, just like the picture!

Ugh! The Innocents doesn't sound Orange List worthy at all. I noticed Kerry read it while she was traveling, didn't say much about it but left it behind once read to make room for other books. Sounds to me that it's a plot that worked in Edith Wharton's time, but without careful attention to the social constructs of the time, it just doesn't work.

So Life After Life isn't part of Atkinson's mystery series? I noticed B&N wanted me to buy it on my nook, and of course I was interested but I thought it was part of the series that has been languishing on my WL for years. I look forward to hearing what you say about it.

Boo for jaw pain, Deb! I hope you still enjoy your Easter dinner. And my sympathies on the relentlessness of dog-walking. I can well remember when I had a dog and no matter how tired or sore I was, Odie had to be walked! I wish I had something like that now to force me to exercise.

Hi Deb, I look forward to your thoughts on Life After Life. I have a hold on it at the library but who knows when I'll get it. Sorry to hear about your dental woes. Have a wonderful E#aster in your sunny, beautiful city.

Happy Easter, Tonto! Sorry to hear about the dental problems. What a bummer. I hope the pain has begun to ebb.
Duh! I thought Life After Life was part of the Jackson Brodie series. Now, I know better. Have you read the Brodie books?

I don't think that there have been any great comedies lately, or do you know of some?

You may be right--I can't think of any at this point. I'll let you know if something comes to mind.

That was at The Stanley, Joyce, it has since been decommissioned.

Yes, I remember seeing movies there when I lived in that neighbourhood. Now it's a theatre--we see plays there about once a year. It's a lovely venue.

Sorry to hear about your dental problems. I used to work for a periodontist, and the most important thing you can do is keep the area scrupulously clean. When in pain, we tend to want to avoid touching the area, but that leads to more pain and more problems. Hope you heal quickly.

@256 Hi Katie!Well, The Innocents did not work for me and I think I'm not the only one, judging by LT reviews. It's good to know I'm not alone. And yes, Life After Life is a stand alone, not one of the fabulous Jackson Brodie mysteries that many of us have read on LT. Isn't funny how our e-readers make suggestions for us? My kindle does do that, but when I go to amazon ca, it 25 pages of book suggestions for me! :)

@257 Thanks Julia ! You know, it reminds of how kind my mom was to me and the dog 3 or 4 years ago. I fell and broke both my wrist and foot. My husband did his best to help out with the walking but of course he had to work . So my mom would come over each afternoon and walk the dog for me, end of October to early December. I'll have to thank her again for that big favour she did.

@258 Thanks to the pain and discomfort I'm having a rather slow read, Bonnie, but I will certainly let you know what I think of Life After Life. It really is beautiful out right now! The cherry blossoms that you see in my picture - it really looks like that here right now! Very beautiful indeed!

@259 Hey thanks for visiting, L. R. Duh is right! Life After Life is a stand alone Literary Masterpiece, or so one of the reviews that I read said. But yes it is a stand alone, and yes, I have read the wonderful Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson . I really loved them!

@260 I forgot that the Stanley has been turned into a theatre! Back when we had the B- Line , I used to hop the bus and head into the Granville and Broadway area and shop - but now I tend to use the Canada Line and end up at Cambie and Broadway and walk from there , so I don't make it up that part of Granville as often as I used to do. Thanks for the dental advice, Joyce. I think I'm doing okay in the clean department. In fact my dentist tells me that I over -brush and that is part of my problem with gum recession in that area. I've still been flossing in back of that back tooth and I'm thinking maybe I'm irritating it even more. Anyway, I'm still taking Advil and I purchased orajel for the first time yesterday. I've never had a toothache, and this is not a tooth ache, so this dental pain, whatever it is, is very new to me. It is very wearing and tiring, I'm finding. I'm hoping that maybe whatever the dentist did on Thursday is still irritating the area - and that it will clear up, but so far no luck. I think I'll be back to the dentist next week. But thanks for the advice, Joyce!

Sorry everyone that I have no been around visting. I'm finding myself quite tired with dealing with the pain. It's not excruciating or anything, but it's definitely painful and keeping me tired and not up to my usual self.

Happy Easter - maybe later I'll get to reading. And such a beautiful weekend!

I think I'm doing okay in the clean department. In fact my dentist tells me that I over -brush and that is part of my problem with gum recession in that area. I've still been flossing in back of that back tooth and I'm thinking maybe I'm irritating it even more.

By "over-brushing" your dentist is telling you that you're abrading the enamel. This happens when we use too much force and a toothbrush that isn't soft enough. Currently in our marketplace, there is only one tooth brush that isn't too stiff--Sensodyne brand. They are the softest we can currently get. Oral-B, Colgate, etc. are all way too hard (also, all those magical spinning flying toothbrushes they advertise are a complete joke). So get yourself a Sensodyne brush, and use gentle teeny-tiny circles--no back and forth scrubbing. Use your wrist--your arm shouldn't move. The key area to clean is the where the gum and tooth meet -- the toothbrush should be angled there. With this technique, one could brush for half an hour a day and never cause damage. But we tend to want to give our mouths a good scrub and really use some elbow grease, which just causes problems in the long run. I worked for Vancouver's leading periodontist for two years and had oral hygiene demonstrations 10x a day, every day, so this has become part of my DNA. If the area is too sore to floss/brush, you can supplement with an irrigator. Good luck!

Hi Deborah! I'm looking forward to Life After Life. I really love her early novels, so I'm glad she's back to doing more of a literary fiction thing. That's not to say that I didn't like Case Histories, but it's not my favorite (I haven't read the other Jackson Brodies, but do mean to finish them at some point.)

I've actually never seen Groundhog Day and it was filmed a few miles from my piddly little home town. I do like Bill Murray though, especially in Rushmore and The Life Aquatic, two of my favorite movies in the whole wide world.

Have a lovely weekend!

I am not a huge fan of comedies though as I said I love Groundhog Day. But my favorite Bill Murray role was one I would never have thought in a million years that he had the stones to play and that was Larry Darrell in The Razor's Edge. I thought he did a marvelous job in that one.
Deb, do you ever get down in the lower 48?
hugs,

I can't wait to read Life after Life, while the comparison to Groundhog Day seems obvious, less so is a wonderful YA book I read called Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. Where a young girl has to live out her last few days over and over until she 'gets it right'. She learns a lot about herself and the effect she has on others.

HI Deb,
first of all, a big booooh for zour dental pain - IMO that must be some of worst pain ever. I hope that your dentist will be able to sort that out quite quickly for you, so that you can resume your normal eating habits.

Do you have a link for a list for the orange longlist books? I do own a copy of a 1001 Books you must read before you die, which is quite good for reference. However, I do agree with you and at times I wonder what the criteria are to choose a particular book.

And least not last I wish you and your family and fab Easter weekend!

@ 262 - Thanks for the advice, Joyce. I trace my " over brushing" back to my orthodontia days when I really had to brush my teeth like crazy thanks to metal brackets and wires in my mouth for a few years. When I saw my dentist on Thursday he actually mentioned " post orthodontia " something or other as another factor in my gum/ exposed root problem in the area that is bothering me. He teaches out at UBC, so I think he's decent dentist - but he suggested a spin brush, which I already have, but I bought a professional one from him at cost on Thursday. I have always used the softest brush available ,but I can crush them in weeks! :) It's in my DNA, I think, at least now it is!!! I'll keep your great advice in mind though and thank you!

@263 Ha! Kerri, they film the TV series Once Upon a Time about 2 miles from me, but do you think I've ever watched the show? They shot parts of Stargate there too -and do you think I watched that ever either! :) So I know what you mean about not watching a film or tv show shot in your backyard. Bill Murray is a crack up. In my younger days I wanted to marry Chevy Chase. :)

@264 Blushes madly at the question do we ever get down to the lower 48. Not since they required a passport to enter the US. I am flying phobic, so I decided, oh fine. But this year hubby and I both got " enhanced drivers licences". However, the line ups here are hours long, and now they are cutting back on US border personnel, so they've been telling us on the news that the waits are really bad. My kids have Nexus's passes, but so far hubby and I do not. So, I guess we will see. I'll have to look into Razor's Edge, Belva. Thanks for the heads up!

@265 Hmm, Sydamy, I'll have to look into Before I Fall. Thanks for the heads up!

@266 Happy Easter to you, Bianca -and I did get over to your thread with the link to the orange LL!

Okay, I made it around to several threads today -and for the moment my jaw pain is very little!!!!! Maybe it's just brief, but maybe things are going back to normal???I hate to mention it in case I jinx things!!! :)

Off to walk the dog in the sunshine!

Happy Easter everyone!

Hi Deb
I hope you are still enjoying Life after Life! I'll keep my eyes peeled for your thoughts on it. I have it on hold at the library so I should have it in the next couple of weeks

Sorry you are in pain right now! Have you thought of switching from Advil to Tylenol? I think that might help your belly ache as tylenol is supposed to be easier on the stomach

Hope you have a good Easter!

So glad the jaw pain is easing up a bit, Deborah! Following up on what Chelle said, maybe alternate the Advil and the Tylenol? Too much Tylenol is bad for your liver, and too much Advil is bad for your stomach. My doctor said switching them up helps keep your intake of either down to a safe level, if it's something you're going to be taking fairly intensively. Just a thought — I am not a doctor!

@ 268 I have not made much progress with Life After Life, Chelle, thanks to my jaw pain, but I'm enjoying it so far.

@269 Thanks for the advice re Tylenol vs Advil, Julia!

Here is the thing with Tylenol for me. I used to be able to take Tylenol 3 - a mix of codeine and tylenol -and I was taking some after some minor surgery some 11 years ago. However, I had an anaphylactic reaction to the Tylenol 3. It was quite scary - Emergency ward, rash, lowered blood pressure, swollen throat. They gave me IV benadryl and a cortisone pill. Anyway, most likely I am allergic to the codeine, but since no one actually knows, I've completely avoided both Tylenol and codeine ever since then.

So, I'm sticking with advil -but so far today I have not needed any! Crosses fingers!!!! :)

Tonto is still having pain issues, eh? Sorry to hear it. I always recommend a couple healthy pints but since you are not a big drinker, I can't help you out much. Nothing beats LT advice, right?
Has your husband tried Forty Words for Sorrow? It's a Canadian crime series. I only read the first one but it's very good.

Deb, so glad to hear that you are feeling a little more comfortable today. Dental pain is the worst!

Oh gosh, that sounds like a scary episode, Deborah! I don't blame you for steering clear of it. But great news that you haven't needed the Advil today — sounds like even if you need to take it you won't be taking so much that it will bother your tummy.

>262 Nickelini: Well, you learn something every day if you keep your wits about you. Turns out my mum was right.

I'm reading lots of good things about Life After Life. Glad you are enjoying it.
Happy Easter from Kaua'i!

My goodness! A lot of things are going on here.. I am hoping that you are having less pain today...

Busy busy... I am on the fence about Life After Life...one minute I think yes.. and the next .. oh NO!

Happy Easter, Deborah. I hope your mouth feels better soon.

Happy Easter Deborah. Sorry to hear about your dental pain. I hope you get some relief soon ( I had to Google all the painkillers you mentioned as we tend to use the generic names here and I had no idea what you were talking about!)

@274 Well, Megan, you never know what you might find on LT to further your knowledge on any topic! :)

@275 Ellen, so kind of you to stop by while on your holiday with those beautiful flowers! I am loving Life After Life!

@276 Kathleen, yesterday I had to put some oral jel on the area at 6 am -but then the rest of the day it felt pretty good. The pain from whatever it was seems to be gone! Yay! YAY! I got 100 pages of Life After Life read! :) I had a couple of days in which the pain was bothering me so much I really could not focus to read.

@277Happy Easter Beth! Yes , knock on wood, the mouth is fine!

@278 Oh sorry you had to google the pain killers. I think most of us here us the product name, but I guess it depends on the person. Yes the pain is gone!

Happy Easter everyone! I have an Easter dinner to go to , so I'll be off for the rest of til later this evening.

Knock on wood, the dental pain is gone! Maybe whatever the dentist did irritated things further for a day or two, and now it's fixed? I have no idea. Maybe adjusting my bite did it? I have no idea. Anyway, I just hope it's gone for good!

As for Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, I'm now on page 155 or so, and I'm loving it! The premise of living and dying and starting over is not tiresome at all, which was what I was worried about in the novel. It's really seamlessly done and we get longer and longer periods of Ursala's life. It's a fabulous read for me so far. Just now at page155, Ursala feels a sort of deja vu come over her at times. It 's really an interesting story, involving Ursuala's family and WW1 and WW11. Of course I don't know what it is entirely about because it reaches about 500 pages, so I have a long way to go.

I'm so pleased with how Kate Atkinson is handling the transitions and the non - linear plot. It is a really seamless read . But wait until I'm done before rushing to purchase the book - unless of course you are like me and just needed this book ASAP!

Happy Easter!

Ohhh, Deb, I'm so glad to hear that a) your pain is relieved; and b) that Life After Life is fabulous!! Joy, joy!

I've tried to send you a comment a couple times and it's not working!

@280 Yes, Nancy, it is wonderful to have my pain gone, and yes ,so far Life After Life is very good -perhaps even fabulous! We had quite the rollicking Easter Dinner with 17 of us. We all have a million opinions in our family, from Harper, to the Murder Capital of Canada, to engagements of the younger adult part of the family and we had a 4 and 6 year old too. Lot's of fun, but I think my family scares my son's quieter girlfriend! :)

@281 Morphy, I got your PM and I've PM'd you back.

Okay, off to visit with my husband a bit today as he worked for the last 4 days and it will be nice to see him properly. A nice sunny day, where my husband ate breakfast in our small backyard. I think he is dreaming a bit, it's not that warm , I don't think - soon though! Nice sunny day here!

Good to hear you're getting some relief from the pain Deborah and good to hear you're enjoying the new Atkinson. And good to hear you're having sunny weather there in BC. It's all good LOL.

We all have a million opinions in our family, from Harper, to the Murder Capital of Canada,

Sigh. I saw the notice that Harper was resigning as leader of the Cons today and it took a few seconds to realize it was April Fools Day. Drat.

And what were the opinions on murder capital of Canada? Winnipeg? Somewhere in Saskatchewan? Abbotsford? I have lots of family in Abbotsford and the crime is pretty bad out there for its size. I even lived there for 6 months in the 80s, so I have a particular dislike for the city, although the surrounding countryside is very beautiful.

they film the TV series Once Upon a Time about 2 miles from me, but do you think I've ever watched the show?

We did watch "Once Upon a Time" last year--mostly just to see all the various locations and figure out what we could identify. All the homes of the people in the town are filmed about 4 minutes from me (although the town itself is in Richmond, as you say). It's funny walking by houses and identifying them with characters on TV and movies (The homes in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies are right around the corner--who would have though those two groups lived in the same neighbourhood?). It's not a terrible show--the locations are stunning, the premise is good, there are some interesting stories, but on the other hand, there's also something annoying about it. But fun to see BC turned into fairyland.

And talking about that--hasn't it been gorgeous? The magnolias are in bloom, and those are my favourite, although I do enjoy the cherry blossoms too.

" Life After Life is very good -perhaps even fabulous!" That is music to my ears! Yah!

Hallelujah! Not often I get to cross a book OFF the WL, but feel I can quite confidently scratch The Innocents - thanks so much for going the hard yards on our behalf, Deb. Going waayyyyy back to the chat about Sherlock Holmes, I really agree that Doyle is not only 'the father of the detective' but, in Homes he has created a character that is continually reprised and updated - even two tv series set in modern times: 'Elementary' and 'Sherlock'. Not Doyle's stories of course, but the character has this amazing fascination as an entity of its own. Did you know that a Building Society used to occupy 221B Baker Street and had to employ a full-time member of staff to answer all the letters addressed to 'Sherlock Holmes'. People from all over the world seeking advice and solutions to various problems. And I especially love that when Doyle 'killed off' his creation in the serialised stories originally published in a London newspaper, all the gents in the City wore black armbands in mourning. By popular demand, Conan Doyle had to resurrect him! (which, seeing as he had quite an interest in the occult, was clearly within his powers). Anyway, I digress. Glad that your days are warming - just as ours are beginning to cool!

@28 Yes indeed, Bonnie, I'd say its all good! The weather is nice, a great Easter dinner, hubby home for 4 days, and good book besides! :) Oh, and dental pain gone - I sure forget pain quick - at least this time! :)

@284Well, Joyce, it is a difficult battle with my family and their pro - Harper ways! How can I be related to them I ask myself! :) I am going to personally purchase each and every one of them a copy of Harperland and perhaps become a wicked school marm with a stick. I may be making some progress. My mom is now seeing problems with Harper ( I forget what ) and my brother in law, in law enforcement, disagrees with Harper's minimum jail times etc and the closing of the Jericho Beach Coast Guard. It's a start. There was vigorous discussion on the murder capital, depending on what province one was from. My brother , currently living outside of Toronto, initially argued the Vancouver area, but soon was squashed and reminded of Toronto. Abbottsford/ Surrey came up, but I soon reminded them of " Dedmonton" ,last years Murder Capital. Finally it was agreed by all that Winnipeg was the serious crime capital of Canada, with my cousin a former resident of said city.

285 Cool that you've got filming in your area. I agree - it's fun to see areas of BC / neighbourhoods and try to decide - where is that? I remember my sister's place being scoped out by the X -Files for a backyard. However they did not make the cut -was the backyard too well kept or not well kept enough asked my sister :) And yes it is gorgeous out - I too love the magnolias!

@286 Thanks L.R.! I always love a visit from you!

@287 Prue, always delighted to able to be of service - ie skipping The Innocents .That's very interesting info about 221B Baker Street!Perhaps I shall have to read more Sherlock Holmes, in particular that killing off and resurrection of Sherlock Holmes. Conan Doyle, by all account was a very intersting man. I love the forwards in the books that give me a bit of look into Conan Doyle and his beliefs. Bundle up, my friend!

Hi Deb! Glad to see your tooth pain has lessened!
Also glad to see that you are enjoying Life after Life! I am 7th on the wait list at my library for that one

Deborah, I'm encouraged by your review-so-far of Life After Life :-) I just checked the library website and there appears to be ONE copy in the London Libraries Consortium catalogue at present, and 128 reservations! I think this means that most of the boroughs have it ordered but don't have it yet. Otherwise I'll be waiting a loooong time!

@289 Chelle, my tooth pain is GONE!! :) I'm loving Life after Life!

@290 Susan, personally I am LOVING Life After Life - it's so well done and interesting! The concept of living and dying is done so well and so smoothly I am surprised ! I was not sure at all if I would like the book - never mind 500 pages of it!

Okay - new thread time.....

Hello, VancouverDeb - just wanted to thank you for your consistent support for my Inspector Ramirez series. Really appreciate it, and I'm glad you've enjoyed the books so much! Cheers, Peggy